A damage model for simulation of mixed-mode delamination growth

An interface element capable of modelling delamination progression under mixed-mode loading is presented. The kinematics of the element are based on the concept of regularised displacement discontinuity. This concept allows the interfacial constitutive equations to be formulated in terms of the traction vector of the interface and the corresponding displacement discontinuity. The decohesion within the interface, corresponding to delamination progression, is accomplished by assigning a non-associative perfectly plastic material model including isotropic damage to the interface element. All parameters of the model can be determined from experimental material data. Damage initiation is calibrated against the interlaminar fracture stresses whereas the evolution of damage is calibrated against the mixed-mode fracture toughness. The interface element has been implemented in a finite element code and results for simulations of standard fracture toughness tests are shown. The results display the applicability of the proposed model and the calibration procedure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.