Stochastic microscale stresses prediction of variable angle tow plates considering multiscale defects employing unified finite elements and mechanics of structure genome

Advances in composite structures have permitted the conception of novel manufacturing techniques, such as Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) or Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), that allow engineers to develop new families of laminated components. Indeed, thanks to these advances, variable angle tow (VAT) [1] laminates have increased their presence in aeronautic applications. Macro and mesoscale analyses of VAT structures has become available during the last decades, mainly focused on the buckling and post-buckling [2] behaviour. In the recent years, high-order finite elements, based on the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) [3] have been employed to analyse the free vibration [4] and stress prediction [5] of VAT plates and shells. Likewise, mesoscale failure onset [6] and buckling performance [7] affected by meso and microscale uncertainty defects has been addressed. However, due to the complexity inherent to the multiscale behaviour of composites, inner scales might have been disregarded when studying VAT composite components. In this manner, this work aims to analyse the microscale stresses that arise in the mentioned laminates subjected to uncertainty defects. For doing so, Mechanics of Structure Genome (MSG) is coupled with CUF [8] to provide: (i) homogenised material properties used in the macro/mesoscale analysis; (ii) retrieve the microscale stress state by providing the mesoscale strain state. Then, the latter can be utilised to calculate failure onset at the innermost scale of the structure.