Using X-FEM for Progressive Damage Simulation of Laminated Composites Featuring Manufacturing Imperfections

Over the last few decades research advances provided a couple of different modeling techniques for progressive damage simulation in composite materials. Among them, the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is a new, but powerful tool for progressive damage simulation. In this work common modeling techniques are reviewed, and then a particular focus is placed on XFEM. The standard implementation of XFEM in Abaqus is reviewed and assessed within an FE simulation of an FRP specimen including manufacturing imperfections. Good agreement is found between simulation results and experimental data. In order to consider the specific damage behavior of the fiber reinforced composite materials within the XFEM frame, an additional implementation of the user subroutine UDMGINI is used, and results are further improved.