A progressive failure model for mesh-size-independent FE analysis of composite laminates subject to low-velocity impact damage

An original, ply-level, computationally efficient, three-dimensional (3D) composite damage model is presented in this paper, which is applicable to predicting the low velocity impact response of unidirectional (UD) PMC laminates. The proposed model is implemented into the Finite Element (FE) code ABAQUS/Explicit for one-integration point solid elements and validated against low velocity impact experimental results. Mesh-regularisation of the impact results is one of the greatest challenges in impact damage modelling of composite targets. Currently published mesh-regularisation strategies can produce mesh-size-independent impact results for a very limited range of mesh-sizes. The originality of the model presented in this paper is based on a novel mesh-regularisation strategy, which is applicable to predicting mesh-size-independent impact results for any target discretisation. Accurate modelling of composites’ impact damage using a relatively coarse mesh, and thus at a much reduced computational cost when compared to existing techniques, can be achieved with the proposed method.