An improved strain-energy based failure criterion based on energy conservation principles is developed. The original model which predicts stress-path independent failure for an elastic orthotropic material has been extended to inelastic fiber-based composites with nonlinear stress-strain response and includes the effect of transverse stress on the shear response to predict matrix failure. This failure criterion is combined with a maximum longitudinal strain criterion for fiber failure prediction to develop a mechanistic failure model for fiber composites. The failure model along with a nonlinear incremental constitutive model is used to predict progressive failure of a composite laminate. To validate the theory, the model predictions are compared with experimental data for two unidirectional glass-fiber laminates and a quasi-isotropic carbon-fiber laminate.
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