Application of high dimensional model representation for fracture characterization of composite beam

Abstract

Prediction of delamination failure is challenging when the researchers try to achieve the task without overburdening the available computational resources. One of the most powerful computational models to predict the crack initiation and propagation is Cohesive Zone Model (CZM), which has become prominent in the crack propagation studies. This study proposes a novel CZM using High Dimensional Model Representation (HDMR) to capture the steady state Energy Release Rate (ERR) of a Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) under Mode-I loading. The Finite Element (FE) models are created using HDMR based load and crack length response functions. Initially, the model is developed for 51 mm crack size DCB specimens, and the developed HDMR based CZM is then used to predict the ERR variations of 76.2 mm crack size DCB model. Comparisons have been made between the available unidirectional composite (IM7/977-3) experiment data with the numerical results obtained from the 51 mm and 76.2 mm initial crack DCB specimens. In order to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed model, the results of the second order nonlinear regression model using RSM are used for the comparison study. The results show that the proposed method is computationally efficient and the error is reduced by 29.05% while capturing the delamination strength. 2018 Oriental Scientific Publishing Company.All right reserved.