ONR High Fidelity Database and Validation Protocols for Structural Failure Mode Characterization—Program Highlights

Abstract

Computational progressive damage and failure analysis (PDFA) methods for composite structural applications offer a significant pathway towards reduced reliance on structural testing. Industry, universities, government, and software vendors are developing improved PDFA method targeted towards improving the predictive capacity for composite structural performance. Thus, an increasing number of analysis tool are available. However, the assessment of technical maturity of the tool is left to the end user. This assessmentrequires a high level expertise in the methods and tools. Additionally, establishing technical maturity requires identification and characterization of the individual failure modes relative to a particular application, which necessitates advanced test and inspection to provide benchmarking data. Currently, no standard verification and validation guidelines exist for composite PDFA methods, nor does the supporting high fidelity test and inspection database. The High Fidelity Database and Validation Protocols for Structural Failure Mode Characterization project sponsored by ONR (N00014-14-C-0128) is filling the gaps by developing the necessary validation protocols with a supporting test database that can be used by PDFA methods developers and end-users. A series of tests were designed to capture individual failure modes as well as failure mode interactions in typical structural laminates (IM7/5320-1 tape). The program details and preliminary findings are presented in this paper.