Damage progression in carbon-fiber reinforced plastic I-beams

Damage and fracture progression in carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite I-beams subject to three point bending are evaluated via computational simulation. An integrated computer code that scales up constituent micromechanics level material properties to the structure level and accounts for all possible failure modes is used for the simulation of composite degradation under loading. Damage initiation, growth, accumulation, and propagation to fracture are included in the simulations. Three I-beams with different lay-up configurations are evaluated. Simulation results are compared with experimental data. Design implications with regard to damage tolerance and residual strength of CFRP composite beams are examined.