Application of LS-DYNA Constitutive Material Model Laws to Simulate Low Velocity Impact Damage to Composite Plates
THAIS ARANHA ROSSI, Kazem Fayazbakhsh, Zouheir Fawaz
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a comparative study conducted to assess the applicability and effectiveness of constitutive material model laws specific to composite materials contained in the LS-DYNA FE code. The LS-DYNA constitutive material model laws evaluated were MAT22, MAT54, MAT55, MAT58, and MAT59, where the selected material law is based on either progressive failure or continuum damage mechanics. The experimental data obtained from unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates subjected to transverse impact at different energy levels were used to validate both two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) LS-DYNA FE models using the aforementioned constitutive material model laws. The outcome of the comparative study revealed that all the material models and their associated failure criteria displayed poor correlation to experimental test results at the low impact energy test condition (5 J) where damage is dominated by matrix cracking. Of all the material model laws, the continuum damage–based model law (CDM) MAT58 with 2D shell elements predicted damage zone shape and size satisfactorily compared with experimental data.