Composite Strength Scaling Effect Using Progressive Degradation Model

The strength scaling of composite laminate design has variable response in sub-laminate and ply level scaling methods. The fact is proved experimentally but the reason for this variable response is authentically not known yet. According to dimensional analysis the strength should be invariant to scale and according to Weibull theory strength changes but it does not differentiate between sub-laminate and ply-level scaling method in fact both have different response to strength in reality. The progressive degradation algorithm is used at micro level (constituent material) to investigate the reason for above said variable response in two different scaling methods. The technique showed some good results and it is found that the edge effects causes destruction at edges due to shear stress, in ply level scaled case, causes the strength reduction in simulated samples.