Numerical Simulation of the Fatigue Damage Growth in Unidirectional Composites based on Fibre-Matrix Debonding

Abstract

A methodology for investigating the micromechanical fatigue behaviour of unidirectional composites based on fibre-matrix debonding is developed. The fatigue damage mechanism is based on the progressive failure of fibres caused by debond crack tip stress fields resulting from fibre breaks in previous load cycles. The methodology combines an analytical model to describe the debond crack initiation and growth with a numerical finite element model to calculate resulting stresses. The methodology is applied on a two-fibre model composite. It can qualitatively predict the stress development within the simulation domain as well as the mechanism of a debond crack tip stress field triggering a break in a neighbouring fibre. Both is consistent with microscale observations in the literature.