Development of a combined interface and extended finite element method to predict delamination in composite structures

Abstract

For this work, an user-defined element (UEL) in ABAQUS was developed in conjunction with a triangular traction separation law, as the Cohesive Zone Model, that combines the Extended Finite Element and Cohesive Element Methods to predict delamination in bonded cantilever beams. The UEL was written in FORTRAN to work within the ABAQUS environment. The major advantage of this approach is that the crack path, or delamination, is efficiently modeled by combining the best of the two methods. The model matches the experimental data with 1– 7% of difference while matching the exact maximum displacement and capturing the nonlinear pattern behavior of the load-deflection curve.