FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF DISCONTINUITY INDUCED CFRP LAMINATE BY USING NASTRAN SOFTWARE

A numerical model based on the finite element method has been constructed with the aim to examine the Linear and shear stress induced in continuous as well as discontinuous specimens in different layers. The first stage of modeling was designed to analyse the problem of continuous tensile CFRP prepreg specimen, in second stage of modeling was designed to analyze the problem of discontinuous specimens like gap, overlap specimens. Each layer tensile stress strain is calculated because of induced discontinuities. This model had many assumptions and was also solved with the use of NASTRAN software. The coupons assumed in the Nastran are based on ASTM standards and were built using CFRP Prepreg with desired thickness by using layered method in NASTRAN. The NASTRAN results were verified experimentally for tensile specimen to measure strength, breaking point, and how crack propagates. The computed values appeared to be in good agreement with those obtained experimentally.