Validation and Investigation of a Multiaxial Progressive Damage Model Through Glass Fiber Reinforced Tube Specimen Under Fatigue Loading

ABSTRACT In the field of composite structure fatigue simulations, progressive damage models are common tools. However, these models are dependent on the definition of meta parameters, such as the residual stiffness following an interfiber failure mode. This study presents a progressive damage model utilizing shell elements, with the material parameters being derived from two independent experiment databases. All required material parameters and their derivations are presented in detail. The model's initial validation is conducted using simple multidirectional specimens under axial loading with multiple R ratios. These results are then compared in terms of cycles to failure and stiffness degradation progression, which are found to be in good agreement with the experiments. In order to validate the model performance under multiaxial stress, tube specimens were investigated. However, these results demonstrate a strong dependency on the residual stiffness and highlight significant limitations of progressive damage models, specifically in terms of delamination.