Mesoscale and Continuum Models of Wave Propagation in a Woven Composite

Abstract

Continuum damage models are often used to simulate impact, damage, and perforation of woven composite materials. Continuum models can accurately predict perforation residual velocity and large-scale damage, such as interlaminar delamination. However, the continuum assumption intrinsic to these models means stress wave propagation and damage at the mesoscale—the scale of the woven fabric architecture—may not be adequately predicted. At the earliest time scale following impact on woven composites, a stress wave propagates from the projectile-target contact area through the composite thickness. The present work compares 1D stress wave propagation theory with continuum and mesoscale models of a plain weave glass/epoxy composite impacted by a flat-nosed, rigid projectile. The results show that the continuum model effectively predicts the theoretical 1D stress wave propagation. But the continuum model cannot predict stress wave interactions with interfaces nor interfacial delamination or debonding damage. A mesoscale model, with discretely modeled woven fabric architecture, is developed and shown to adequately predict the stress wave interaction at mesoscale interfaces by particle velocity compared with 1D theory, and the model is used to study interfacial debonding.