Finite element analysis using Cohesive Zone Method (CZM) is a commonly used method to investigate delamination in laminated composites. In this study, two plane strain, zero-thickness six-node quadratic (6-NQ) and four-node linear (4-NL) interface elements are developed to implement CZM. Two main approaches for CZM formulation are categorized as Unified Mode Approach (UMA) and Separated Mode Approach (SMA), and implemented into 6-NQ interface elements to model a double cantilever beam (DCB) test of a unidirectional laminated composite. The results of the approaches are nearly identical. However, it is theoretically shown that SMA spawns non-symmetric tangent stiffness matrices, which may lower convergence and/or overall performance, for mixed-mode loading cases. Next, a UMA constitutive relationship is rederived. The artificial modifications for improving convergence rates such as lowering penalty stiffness, weakening interfacial strength and using 6-NQ instead of 4-NL interface elements are investigated by using the derived UMA and the DCB test model. The modifications in interfacial strength and penalty stiffness indicate that the convergence may be improved by lowering either parameter. However, over-softening is found to occur if lowering is performed excessively. The morphological differences between the meshes of the models using 6-NQ and 4-NL interface elements are shown. As a consequence, it is highlighted that the impact to convergence performance and overall performance might be in opposite. Additionally, benefits of selecting CZM over other methods are discussed, in particular by theoretical comparisons with the popular Virtual Crack Closure Technique. Finally, the numerical solution scheme and the Arc-Length Method are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12611005/index.pdf |
| Date | 01 August 2009 |
| Creators | Gozluklu, Burak |
| Contributors | Parnas, Levend |
| Publisher | METU |
| Source Sets | Middle East Technical Univ. |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | M.S. Thesis |
| Format | text/pdf |
| Rights | To liberate the content for public access |
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