COMSOL 6.4 - What Can the Composite Materials Module Do?

What Can the Composite Materials Module Do?

Using the Composite Materials Module, a laminated composite shell, also known as composite laminate, can be modeled. A composite laminate is an assembly of layers with different mechanical properties. The laminate is designed to provide required in-plane stiffness, bending stiffness, shear stiffness, coefficient of thermal expansion, and so on. Different materials can be used in different layers, producing a hybrid laminate. In general, the individual layers are orthotropic or transversely isotropic, making the laminate anisotropic.

Multiscale analysis of a composite laminate can be performed using micromechanical and macromechanical modeling approaches. A micromechanical analysis considers an individual constituents in a material subvolume. The aim is to compute the homogenized material properties of a single layer. In contrast, a macromechanical analysis considers an entire laminate that consists of many layers. The aim is to compute the macroscopic response of a laminate under various loading conditions.

In COMSOL Multiphysics, composite laminates are analyzed either using Layerwise 3D Elasticity theory through the Layered Shell interface or using First Order Shear Deformation theory (ESL-FSDT) theory through one of the , , or material models in the Shell interface. Very thin laminates, of essentially zero bending stiffness, are analyzed using an equivalent single layer theory using the material model in the Membrane interface.

In composite laminates, different types of failures may appear. Thus, it is important to perform failure analyses of composite laminates. Both laminate theories allow computation of failure indices and safety factors based on various general, as well as fiber composite specific, failure criteria. Buckling of a composite laminate is a common phenomenon and important to consider in design. In addition, a composite laminate consists of many layers glued/laminated together. Under different loading conditions, especially impact loading, the bond between two layers may break in a specific region. The modeling of delamination initiation and damage propagation is important to accurately predict the response of a damaged composite laminate.

Conventionally, a composite laminate is designed based on structural requirements. However, for an application where electrical or thermal effects are significant, it is may also be necessary to design the laminate based on combined structural, thermal, and electrical requirements. A tool is required that can solve for other physical phenomena, especially electrical and thermal, in addition to structural mechanics. This multiphysics modeling is possible using the Composite Materials Module together with the Heat Transfer Module and the AC/DC Module.

Composite laminates are defined on boundaries, with layered materials attached to them. They are in general in-plane anisotropic, and heterogeneous in the through-thickness direction. It is important to be able to evaluate results in each layer, as well as in the through-thickness direction, and not only on the reference surface. There are various predefined tools which aid in the visualization of results for a composite laminate.

In the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual:

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Studies and Solvers

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The Physics Interfaces

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For a list of physics interfaces included with a COMSOL Multiphysics license, see Physics Interface Guide.