Prediction model for cyclic fatigue failure of fibrous composites with or without notches

An analytical model was developed to predict the cyclic fatigue failure of laminated fibrous composites which may have any layup orientations with or without notches like perforated holes. The cyclic failure of laminated fibrous composites was predicted by tracking the progressive failure of fibers embedded in the composites at critical locations. The analytical model consists of multiple techniques. First, a multiscale technique is used to determine the stresses in the fibers in composite structural members subjected to cyclic loading. The unified failure criterion is used to determine the maximum fiber stresses at critical locations when the composite structural members fail under static loading. Then, a progressive fiber failure model is used to track the fatigue damage in the composite structural members. The proposed cyclic fatigue failure model was validated against various cases such as dry fiber bundles, and laminated composites with or without a notch subjected to uniform or non-uniform magnitudes of cyclic loading.