ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a synergistic approach to laminated composite’s degradation due to matrix damage. The actual geometry and characteristics of damage for every lamina are calculated by an analytical micromechanics solution which can predict damage initiation and evolution in terms of physically measurable quantities such as crack density and fracture toughness of the material. Then, a synergistic approach combining the micromechanics-of-damage solution at each lamina with a continuum-damage-mechanics representation of the residual stiffness of laminas already solved, enables the synergistic model to achieve prediction of damage for any symmetric laminate stacking sequence. This synergistic model, which is called discrete damage mechanics (DDM), is mesh insensitive. Experimental validation is abundant for several material systems in various geometric configurations when subjected to quasi-static loads. DDM is further used in Chapter 11 to predict thermomechanical fatigue.
