Nalinda W. Waas | Search NASA

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Progressive Damage Mechanisms in Thick 3D Composite Structures under Static and Fatigue Loading

The objective of this work is to demonstrate validation of predictive capabilities capturing both damage initiation and growth under static and fatigue loading in geometrically complex three-dimensional (3D) composite structures. The composite structure of interest in the present study resembles a 3D blade spar used in rotorcraft applications. Under both static and fatigue testing, it was shown that damage initiated at the same ply-drop location(s) and grew in the axial as well as hoop directions. CompDam – a state-of-the-art Progressive Damage Analysis (PDA) tool was used to achieve successful correlations of metrics including load-displacement responses and damage modes.

progressive damage analysis↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Experimental Observations of Damage States in Unnotched and Notched 3D Orthogonal Woven Coupons Loaded in Tension

This paper describes a series of unnotched and notched tensile tests on two 3D orthogonal woven architectures loaded in the warp direction. Dogbone specimens were used for the unnotched tests, and open-hole specimens were used for the notched tests. For each architecture and test type, two specimens were loaded under monotonic displacement control to failure, and two specimens were incrementally loaded to failure in five steps. X-ray computed tomography (CT) was used to characterize the woven architecture and defects on each specimen prior to testing. Digital image correlation (DIC) images were obtained from both sides of the specimen throughout the loading and unloading. For the incremental tests, X-ray CT was used to document the damage progression after each load increment. The results for both architectures and test specimens followed a similar pattern where matrix cracks formed perpendicular to the load direction and were primarily located between the stacks of warp tows. Two-piece failure path always occurred perpendicular to the loading direction, along the through-thickness segments of the Z-tows. The combination of stress concentrations due to the specimen geometry, weave geometry, and cut tows created stress concentrations that appear to initiate failure.

Woven materials↗