Damage Models and Computational Tools for Health Monitoring of Smart Composite Structures

"Formulation of physically based damage models and computational approaches, and the development of a finite element computer program for the analysis of thin and thick laminated composite structures with embedded senors/actuators are proposed. Inparticular, the present research is aimed at carrying out the following tasks: (1) development of theoretical models to assess damage and predict failures based on multi-scale, global-local analyses; (2) development of theoretical models for reduction ofstructural stiffness due to damage and failure based on the mode of failure; (3) development of global-local computational procedures for micro-scale and macro-scale damage models and their interactions; (4) incremental finite element procedures based onvariable kinematic models that include both single-layer shear deformation plate theories as well a layer-wise theory for the determination damage and its evolution in laminated composite structures, and (5) development of a computer program based on theconcepts and procedures developed herein and validation through a number of examples to determine parametric effects of geometry, material properties, lamination schemes, loading, and number and location of sensors and actuators. The theories andcomputational tools developed herein can be used to determine 3D stress fields and study damage growth and failures in composite structures. The results of this research will contribute to a fundamental