Simulations of Axial Impact of Composite Structures with a Coupled Damage-Plasticity Model

Under axial impact, a composite structure can split into pieces at the crush front while maintaining an apparent structural integrity in its uncrushed portion. In this way, the structure is capable of sustaining large deformation under a sufficiently high load. To simulate this behavior, the constitutive model must be able to describe the response of a substantially damaged composite under dynamic loading. The constitutive behavior beyond the peak loading is not well represented in common composite constitutive models. This paper presents the recent development of a coupled damage-plasticity model for composites and its applications in crush simulations.