Adaptation of FEM to analyze stresses in carbon/glass hybrid woven composite lamina

Composite materials have emerged as an alternative for structural design across various industrial sectors, including automotive, aeronautical, and aerospace applications, among others. Among the types of laminated composites, hybrid composites stand out due to their ability to combine the mechanical properties of different reinforcements, providing greater versatility in structural applications. However, one crucial aspect to consider in structural design is the presence of geometric discontinuities, which lead to stress concentrations and contribute to a reduction in the allowable stresses of the structural component. This study aimed to analyze the mechanical behavior of a tensile test on a specimen with a central hole, made from a composite consisting of a hybrid lamina of carbon and glass fibers arranged perpendicularly to each other, using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Additionally, a modification to Hashin’s failure criterion was implemented for the analysis of this hybrid composite to investigate the stress gradients in the region near the hole. After comparing the maximum normal stresses obtained from simulations with those derived from analytical expressions and experimental tests, the numerical results demonstrated that the modified Hashin criterion for hybrid composites effectively represented the stress distribution in the vicinity of the hole, presenting a representativeness (ANOVA) value of 352, compared to 268 obtained with the analytical model, as well as conservative ultimate stress values, with stresses up to 30% lower than the experimental results.