Developed from the author’s course on advanced mechanics of composite materials, Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materials with Abaqus® shows how powerful finite element tools tackle practical problems in the structural analysis of composites. This Second Edition includes two new chapters on "Fatigue" and "Abaqus Programmable Features" as well as a major update of chapter 10 "Delaminations" and significant updates throughout the remaining chapters. Furthermore, it updates all examples, sample code, and problems to Abaqus 2020. Unlike other texts, this one takes theory to a hands-on level by actually solving problems. It explains the concepts involved in the detailed analysis of composites, the mechanics needed to translate those concepts into a mathematical representation of the physical reality, and the solution of the resulting boundary value problems using Abaqus. The reader can follow a process to recreate every example using Abaqus graphical user interface (CAE) by following step-by-step directions in the form of pseudo-code or watching the solutions on YouTube. The first seven chapters provide material ideal for a one-semester course. Along with offering an introduction to finite element analysis for readers without prior knowledge of the finite element method, these chapters cover the elasticity and strength of laminates, buckling analysis, free edge stresses, computational micromechanics, and viscoelastic models for composites. Emphasizing hereditary phenomena, the book goes on to discuss continuum and discrete damage mechanics as well as delaminations and fatigue. The text also shows readers how to extend the capabilities of Abaqus via "user subroutines" and Python scripting. Aimed at advanced students and professional engineers, this textbook features 62 fully developed examples interspersed with the theory, 82 end-of-chapter exercises, and 50+ separate pieces of Abaqus pseudo-code that illustrate the solution of example problems. The author’s website offers the relevant Abaqus and MATLAB model files available for download, enabling readers to easily reproduce the examples and complete the exercises. Video recording of solutions to examples are available on YouTube with multilingual captions.

The effect of adhesive thickness and adherent overlap on behavior of composite single-lap joints (SLJ) under tensile load is studied by using a 3D finite-element model. A bilinear Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) law is used to represent the adhesive behavior and its parameters are determined as a function of adhesive thickness by carrying out Double Cantilever Beam and End-Notched Flexure tests. The performance of SLJ is defined by peak load, maximum shear, and peel stresses. For the range of adhesive thicknesses considered, both maximum shear and peel stresses decrease with increasing adhesive thickness, while they increase with increasing overlap length.

Environmental effects on the creep response of composites are of great interest because these materials are very sensitive to temperature and other environmental conditions. Short and long-term creep effects have been studied for composites under various environmental conditions, but most studies rely on experimental testing of particular laminates. Here, a novel micro-mechanical/laminate model is developed to predict the creep response of laminated polymer matrix composites from matrix creep data. Furthermore, a novel two-parameter superposition method is used to predict the long-term response of the polymer matrix as a function of two environmental parameters: moisture and temperature. The procedure used to compute the two shift factors is described. The resulting master curve can be used to predict the long-term properties of the matrix and for any temperature and humidity conditions. Once the matrix behavior is known, the micro-mechanical/ laminate model allows for accurate prediction of long-term properties of arbitrary laminates for the same conditions.

Progressive damage analysis is a constitutive model available in Abaqus(TM) to predict damage initiation and evolution in laminated composite materials but no standards are available to obtain the required material properties. A novel methodology is proposed to determine the material properties for carbon/polymer composites, relying on crack-density data. Since PDA does not predict crack density, direct correlation of data with PDA predictions is not possible. Therefore, another constitutive model is used to estimate modulus-reduction as a function of measured crack density. Then, PDA material properties are determined using the calculated modulus-reduction data. Applicability to several material systems is presented.