Numerical analysis of fracture mechanics in composite material reinforced with fiberglass

Abstract

Due the use of composite materials in structural engineering, understanding the nature and failure mechanisms for application in numerical simulations of crack propagation in these materials, it is essential to examine the approximate behavior in which the structure will be in its critical state. Thus, this paper aims to analyze computationally the crack propagation in polymeric composite material reinforced with fiberglass – polymethymethacrylate (PMMA). Performing the numerical modeling of the matrix and fiber, in order to evaluate the interaction that occurs in its interface, and using the extended finite element method (XFEM), integrated into ABAQUS software, to simulate the crack. The results obtained computationally are faced with experimental data in tensile tests, based on relations of the damage variable and normal stress with the strain in the numerical simulation