NUMERICAL MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF COMPOSITE SEGMENT BENDING TEST AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION

The three-point bending test has been performed for a single-wave glass-polyester laminate segment. The geometry and stacking sequence of the segment is modelled on a selected composite tank cover. The main purpose of the study is to develop numerical modelling and simulation methodology for such a test using FE code MSC. Marc/Mentat as well as to perform experimental validation. The segment was manufactured in ROMA Ltd., Grabowic, Poland and made of a glass-polyester mixed laminate with a (CSM450/STR600) 4/CSM450 stacking sequence, using contact technology. The elastic and strength constants of the laminas have been derived experimentally on standard specimens cut from homogeneous laminates M (5xCSM450) and F (4xSTR600). The laminate components constitute: Polimal 104 polyester resin (matrix; produced by Organika-Sarzyna Co., Poland), E-glass mat and E-glass 1/1 plain weave fabric (reinforcement; produced by KROSGLASS Co., Poland). The numerical tests include the application of six selected shell finite elements, which accept layered composite material declaration, available in the MSC. Marc FE library. Simulated pressure force -punch displacement diagrams are presented against the respective experimental results. It has been pointed out that Element_75 (Bilinear Thick Shell) gives the results closest to reality, both qualitatively and quantitatively. A set of options/values of numerical modelling and simulation parameters elaborated by the authors' team in earlier papers has been applied. Index failures contours related to subsequent laminas are recommended for the design of shell segments of laminate covers of tanks and canals.