Multi-scale Progressive Fatigue Damage Model for Unidirectional Laminates with the Effect of Interfacial Debonding

This paper presents a multi-scale progressive fatigue damage model incorporating the model for interfacial debonding between fibers and matrix. The micromechanics model for the progressive interface debonding was adopted, which defined the four different interface phases: (1) perfectly bonded fibers; (2) mild imperfect interface; (3) severe imperfect interface; and (4) completely debonded fibers. As the number of cycles increases, the progressive transition from the perfectly bonded state to the completely debonded fiber state occurs. Eshelby's tensor for each imperfect state is calculated by the linear spring model for a damaged interface, and effective elastic properties are obtained using the multi-phase homogenization method. The fatigue damage evolution formulas for fiber, matrix and interface were proposed to demonstrate the fatigue behavior of CFRP laminates under cyclic loading. The material parameters for the fiber/matrix fatigue damage were characterized using the chaotic firefly algorithm. The model was implemented into the UMAT subroutine of ABAQUS, and successfully validated with flat-bar UD laminate specimens ([0]8, [90]8, [30]16) of AS4/3501-6 graphite/epoxy composite.