Modeling of progressive damage in aligned and randomly oriented discontinuous fiber polymer matrix composites

Damage constitutive models based on micromechanical formulation and a combination of micromechanical and macromechanical damage criterions are presented to predict progressive damage in aligned and random fiber-reinforced composites. Progressive interfacial fiber debonding models are considered in accordance with a statistical function to describe the varying probability of fiber debonding. Based on an effective elastoplastic constitutive damage model for aligned fiber-reinforced composites, micromechanical damage constitutive models for two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) random fiber-reinforced composites are developed. The constitutive relations and overall yield function for aligned fiber orientations are averaged over all orientations to obtain the constitutive relations and overall yield function of 2D and 3D, random fiber-reinforced composites. Finally, the present damage models an implemented numerically and compared with experimental data to show the progressive damage behavior of random fiber-reinforced composites. Furthermore, the damage models will be implemented into a finite element program to illustrate the dynamic inelastic behavior and progressive crushing in composite structures under impact loading. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.