Nonlocal modeling of crack-interface interaction in a composite system

The mechanical response and the fracture phenomena in a composite system not only depend on the elastic and fracture properties of individual constituents but also on additional parameters such as fiber alignment, fiber volume fraction, interface properties and laminate layup. Fiber alignment is one such parameter that governs the design of the composite according to the purpose required. In the present work, a nonlocal approach combined with a cohesive zone model is proposed and implemented in finite element framework. The proposed model can capture different failure phenomena in a matrix- fiber system. The influence of various properties of fiber, matrix, and the fiber-matrix interface on the mechanical response of the composite system is studied. An exponential coupled cohesive zone law is considered for modeling fiber-matrix interface. Smeared representation of crack and interface are considered in the analysis. The results are validated with numerical simulations present in the literature.