Micromechanics-based progressive failure analysis of fibre-reinforced composites with non-iterative element-failure method

This paper proposes a micromechanics-based progressive failure analysis strategy for fibre-reinforced composites. A non-iterative element-failure method (NEFM) is developed and integrated with a micromechanics-based failure criterion. The micromechanics of failure (MMF) is further investigated and modified to improve predictions. The NEFM is focused on implementation of damaged elements with direct solution and implicit nodal forces. Progressive failure of fibre-reinforced laminates is analysed with the micromechanics-based NEFM and the results are compared with those from the traditional finite element method or experiments. The comparison demonstrates computational efficiency and validity of the micromechanics-based NEFM in progressive failure analysis of composites.