A novel phase-field based cohesive zone model for modeling interfacial failure in composites

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new phase-field based cohesive zone model that effectively simulates interfacial failure in composites, capturing the interaction between bulk and interfacial cracks with improved accuracy.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel phase-field cohesive zone model with a modified degradation function, enabling better simulation of interfacial failure in composite materials.

Findings

Model accurately predicts interfacial cracking behavior.

Demonstrates improved interaction modeling between bulk and interface cracks.

Validated against experimental and numerical benchmarks.

Abstract

The interface plays a critical role in the mechanical properties of composites. In the present work, a novel phase-field based cohesive zone model (CZM) is proposed for the cracking simulation. The competition and interaction between the bulk and interfacial cracking are taken into consideration directly in both displacement- and phase-field. A modified family of degradation functions is utilized to describe traction-separation law in the CZM. Finite element implementation of the present CZM was carried out with a completely staggered algorithm. Several numerical examples, including a single bar tension test, a double cantilever beam test, a three-point bending test, and a single fiber-reinforced composite test, are carried out to validate the present model by comparison with existing numerical and experimental results.The present model shows its advantage on modeling interaction between bulk and interfacial cracking. 1. Introduction