An efficient high-fidelity Abaqus-based toolset with significantly improved durability predictive capabilities for composite flexbeams

The goal of this proposal is to develop an efficient high-fidelity Abaqus-based toolset with significantly improved durability predictive capabilities for composite flexbeams using user-defined elements. The global analysis of the flexbeam will be carried out using Abaqus with the tapered regions meshed using 3D user-defined elements and the uniform region meshed with 1D user-defined beam elements. The effective properties of user-defined elements will be predicted by a micromechanical analysis formulated based on mechanics of structures genome. All the microstructural details including ply drop-offs and other defects will be explicitly modeled and the complete 3D stresses/strains will be accurately predicted at the ply level. Thermodynamically consistent continuum fatigue damage and cohesive zone models will be implemented in the micromechanical analyses for predicting multiaxial fatigue. The constitutive modeling of 3D user-defined elements will be implemented in SwiftComp, a general-purpose multiscale constitutive modeling code, and the constitutive modeling of 1D user-defined elements will be implemented in VABS, a general-purpose cross-sectional analysis. A mixed meshing scheme will be developed for easy finite element model creation in Abaqus. Success of this proposal will produce a practical solution for efficient yet accurate durability analysis of composite flexbeams.