A Hybrid Experimental-Modeling-Computational Framework for UHMWPE Based on Deformation and Failure Mechanisms: Extension to Off-Axis Shear Loading of Fiber-Based Composites

Author(s):

Stephen L. Alexander and Tusit Weerasooriya

Abstract:

We previously developed a framework for finite element simulation of UHMWPE composites at the sub-mesoscale (SMS) to interrogate deformation and failure mechanisms. The concept was applied to simulate a recent set of experiments specifically designed to address the existing knowledge gap on shear failure for these materials. These experiments characterized the shear response across loading rates of both newer film-based and more traditional fiber-based composites. We previously focused on the film-based composites and identified material parameters by matching the experimental response at each rate. Parameters were transitioned from the SMS model to a macroscale model for use in larger simulations. Here, an analogous path was followed to identify and transition material parameters for the fiber-based composites. The framework was extended to accommodate the differences between fiber-based and film-based composites. This included implementing a user defined tiebreak (UTB) model to simulate delamination with a custom-shaped traction-separation law (TSL). The high-rate material parameters that were transitioned to the macroscale model and further optimized can be used by other researchers to represent shear delamination failure of fiber-based composites under dynamic loading. Additionally, the UTB method developed here can be used for simulating delamination in other materials that may also require custom-shaped TSLs.