A finite element-based continuum damage model for mechanical joints in fiber metal laminates under static and fatigue loading

In this study the theory and experimental validation of a novel continuum damage modeling framework for highly predictive strength and fatigue analyses of mechanical joints in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites with local metal hybridization is presented. In contrast to existing damage modeling approaches for mechanical joints in fiber metal laminates (FML), the herein presented framework is able to predict the joint's failure mode both under static and fatigue loading, which is an indispensable feature for the identification of damage tolerant lightweight joint designs. For this purpose, the laminate's constituent materials (i.e. the metallic inlays and the FRP plies) are simulated individually by physically motivated static-fatigue continuum damage models. Here, the elastic and plastic mechanical strain energy is utilized to compute the materials’ damage parameters. In this way, the models are (i) able to suppress any mesh-dependence during material softening, (ii) able to account for damage initiation and growth, and (iii) applicable both in the low- and high-cycle fatigue regime. The algorithms are implemented as user-material (UMAT) subroutine for the commercial finite element software ABAQUS. The damage modeling framework is validated for open hole tension and T-bolt joint setups both under static and fatigue loading.