MMF&EFM: an innovative science-based methodology for modeling and simulating Composite Materials for Durability

In the design of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials, the preeminent concerns are typically: progressive failure and life prediction especially when subjected to fatigue loading. Fatigue experiments are usually very expensive and take a long time to complete. Furthermore, there could be thousands of test cases depending on the material system and layup sequences envisioned for a particular design. So this conventional procedure can hardly satisfy the need for a fast design cycle and cannot guarantee an optimal final design. Here we propose a method based on micro-mechanics. Starting from the constituents, i.e., fiber, matrix and interface, we proceed to predict the behavior of individual plies, bulk laminates and eventually total structures. Through the micromechanics approach, it is possible to predict progressive failure or life of composite structures. The Phase II program proposed anticipates developing a validated, long-term durability prediction methodology for FRP composite materials that can be used to strengthen, repair, and upgrade existing FRP structures on vehicles. This methodology will also be applicable to the design of new composite structures. This Phase II effort will also strive for integration into software tools for the implementation and integration with commercial finite element analysis software.