Numerical fatigue analysis of CFRP components

Abstract For the design and successive application of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) components in automotive as well as general machine building applications the fatigue degradation behaviour has to be described and modelled realistically. For this purpose a phenomenological fatigue damage modelling and parameter identification strategy for fibre reinforced composites under multi-axial fatigue loads is revised here shortly. Later the method of implementation of the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) approach into finite element software Abaqus© and its validation is described in detail. The presented method is further on used for the FE-based prediction and visualisation of the degradation behaviour of a layered CFRP tension strut under tension-tension fatigue loading. The modelling results are validated with the three dimensional deformation behaviour, the stiffness degradation as well as the damage evolution of the component.