Research Projects

Translaminar fracture in fibre reinforced composites is a complex process involving multiple length scales and microstructural details. The proposed work aims to develop a multiscale model that accurately predicts composite fracture by accounting for constituent material properties at both micro and mesoscale scales. The model uses homogenization techniques to approximate the behavior of heterogeneous materials with microstructures that vary over multiple length scales, resulting in effective or homogenized behavior at a macroscopic scale while accounting for microscale heterogeneity. The phase-field method captures complex phenomena, making it a valuable tool for modeling complex crack trajectories. The model also establishes a micro-macro coupling using the heterogeneous multiscale finite element method (FE-HMM). The model aims to predict the translaminar fracture process in composites by incorporating microscale mechanisms, translating them to mesoscale properties, and resulting crack propagation. This model will be used for virtual testing of composites and screening of translaminar fracture properties, enabling the identification of strategies to enhance translaminar fracture properties and guiding material tailoring and optimizing composite design for specific applications.