A new stress-based multi-scale failure criterion of composites and its validation in open hole tension tests

A new stress-based multi-scale failure criterion is proposed based on a series of off-axis tension tests, and their corresponding fiber failure modes and matrix failure modes are determined at the microscopic level. It is a physical mechanism based, three-dimensional damage analysis criterion which takes into consideration the constituent properties on the macroscopic failure behavior of the composite laminates. A complete set of stress transformation, damage determination and evolution methods are established to realize the application of the multi-scale method in failure analysis. Open-hole tension (OHT) specimens of three material systems (CCF300/5228, CCF300/5428 and T700/5428) are tested according to ASTM standard D5766, and good agreements are found between the experimental results and the numerical predictions. It is found that fiber strength is a key factor influencing the ultimate strength of the laminates, while matrix failure alleviates the stress concentration around the hole. Different matchings of fiber and matrix result in different failure modes as well as ultimate strengths.