Parametric study on fracture angle search algorithm for puck’s 3D matrix failure criterion

Abstract

The Puck’s failure criteria is one of the most successful models for assessing the onset of damage in unidirectional (UD) laminate composites. However the original algorithm proposed for matrix fracture plane angle search is based on brute-force approach where all the angles between - 90º to 90º, in increments of 1º ought to be evaluated. This work presents an enhanced method to expedite the detection of inter-fiber fracture (IFF) angle in UD laminate composites. A series of numerical optimisations and enhancements were made to reduce the computational cost of the fracture angle search.