A Multiscale Framework for the Progressive Damage Analysis of Fiber-Reinforced Composites Using a Component-Wise Approach

The objective of the current work is the development of a multiscale numerical platform for the analysis of fibre-reinforced composites, using higher-order structural theories based on the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). The present work extends previous works on CUF multiscale modelling by considering an explicit time integration scheme for the macroscale analysis. Each integration point at the macroscale is informed by the micromechanical analysis of a representative volume element (RVE). Nonlinearity in the analysis arises from nonlinear material behaviour within the matrix constituent of the RVE. Composite inelasticity is modelled using the von Mises plasticity theory, while progressive damage is modelled using the crack band approach. Numerical assessments are performed to predict composite inelasticity via the explicit multiscale approach, and the results are found to be in good agreement with experimental data and reference numerical results. Structural-level multiscale progressive damage analysis is also performed to demonstrate the capability of the multiscale framework, and the obtained results are in good agreement with reference numerical results from the literature, thus verifying the framework for progressive damage analysis.