ABSTRACT
A progressive failure model is developed for laminated composites containing stress concentrations subjected to in-plane loading. Parametric studies show that load increment has little effect on the ultimate strength. Recently, more interest has been placed on progressive failure modeling. The mechanisms for damage progression and accumulation in laminated composites containing stress concentrations are extremely complicated. Another key issue in the progressive failure model of laminated composites is that it contains some three-dimensional effects. Parametric studies were conducted to show the mesh size effect and the load increment effect. Finally, the predictions for the ultimate strength and the damage accumulation for laminated composites containing a central hole were examined with the experimental results. In-plane failure can generally be classified into matrix failure and fiber breakage. Each of these failure mechanisms can be caused by a uniaxial stress or combined stresses.
