Abstract:
A 3D finite element model using cohesive elements and continuum (bulk) material damage
models was developed to examine the progressive damage and failure behaviour of Glare™
Fibre Metal Laminate (FML) specimens subject to compressive loading. Specimens were either
‘pristine’ or contained manufacturing defects in typical features such as splices and doublers. In
particular, the initiation and growth of delamination at the inter-laminar interfaces and the onset
of plasticity during buckling have been examined. Load eccentricity and geometric
imperfections were incorporated in an explicit dynamic nonlinear analysis implemented in the
software Abaqus/Explicit. A series of specimens with and without artificial delaminations were
tested under compression for validation. Tests were monitored using Digital Image Correlation
(DIC) for visualisation of full-field displacements and strains whilst Acoustic Emission (AE)
monitoring enabled detection and location of the onset and progression of damage. Results for
Glare 4B specimens incorporating longitudinal and transverse delaminations into both splice
and doubler geometries are presented. Good correlation between test and predicted results is
observed.