Micromechanical damage modeling and multiscale progressive failure analysis of composite pressure vessel

A multiscale damage model is proposed to predict the failure properties and ultimate burst pressure of composite pressure vessel. The macroscopic damage evolution and stiffness properties of the composite vessel are represented by those of the representative volume element (RVE). First, a microscopic damage model is established, where the fiber breakage is predicted using Monte Carlo simulation, and the progressive matrix cracking is described by continuum damage mechanics-based modeling and the interface failure is simulated using Xu and Needleman's cohesive model. Then, a stiffness degradation model is proposed to link the macroscopic stiffness of the composite vessel with the failure evolvement of the RVE. Finally, the multiscale progressive failure analysis of the composite vessel is implemented by associating the finite element codes ANSYS-APDL with ABAQUS-UMAT. The numerical convergence problems are effectively addressed by introducing the viscous damping effect. The predicted failure strengths of the composite vessels are consistent with the experimental results. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.