Finite element implementation of Puck's failure theory for fibre-reinforced composites under three-dimensional stress

The objectives of this article are to apply Puck's failure criteria to predict the failure of 12 test problems, proposed in Part A of the second World-Wide Failure Exercise. These problems include a polymer material, various unidirectional laminae and three multi-directional laminates under a variety of 3D stress loadings. The implementation was carried out through a commercial finite element code where material nonlinearities, due to material behaviour under shear and transverse and through-thickness loadings and due to post failure damage, were taken into account. This is the first time where the critertion has been stretched to its limits. Some of the challenges found include the need to determine the fracture angle of action plane under 3D stresses and the treatment of the strengthening effects on the nonlinear stress strain curves when a lamina is subjected to combined compressive stresses in both the transverse and through-thickness directions. The successful methodology developed here will be used to analyse the effects of boundary conditions in Part B of the second World-Wide Failure Exercise to improve correlation with experimental results for the test problems.