The mechanical response of IM7-8552 carbon epoxy was investigated for transverse tension and transverse tension/in-plane shear loadings at static and dynamic strain rates using transverse tension and off-axis tension specimens. The dynamic tests were carried out on a split-Hopkinson tension bar at axial strain rates from 113 to 300 \(\hbox {s}^{-1}\). With the already available off-axis and transverse compression test data for IM7-8552, a comprehensive data set is available now, which can be used for validation and calibration of numerical models. The measured axial stress–strain response was simulated using a fully 3D transversely isotropic elastic–viscoplastic constitutive model. The constitutive model represents a viscoplastic extension of the transversely-isotropic plasticity model developed by the authors (Vogler et al. in Mech Mater 59:50–64, 2013 ). An invariant based failure criterion is added to the model to be able to predict the strength for a given orientation and strain rate accurately. The strain rate dependency of the elastic and ultimate strength properties is introduced in the model through scaling functions. A good correlation between the measured and numerically predicted stress–strain response and failure of the specimens was achieved for all specimen types and both strain rate regimes.

Damage evolution of notched composite laminates is analysed in this work using a discrete damage model, which estimates matrix damage evolution and fibre failure. The fibre damage is regularised with a Weibull distribution, and a Regula Falsi method has been used to improve numerical convergence. The model is compared and validated with several experimental results taken from the scientific literature, which consider different materials, laminate stacking sequences and specimen geometries. A good correlation has been found for the failure strength and the stress strain curve of notched and un-notched laminates subjected to in plane loads. The influence of the Weibull modulus on the matrix and fibre damage evolution, and the failure strength, is analysed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft