Abstract:

Virtual testing by means of progressive damage and failure analysis (PDFA) of composite structures holds the promise of reducing the timeline for certification of composite structures by complementing experimental testing. The focus of this talk is on recent investigations conducted at NASA under the Advanced Composites Project (ACP) working toward the goal of developing predictive PDFA capability. A verification and validation approach is described as a framework for assessing the predictive capability of PDFA methods for the skin-stiffener separation failure mode of postbuckled stiffened panels. Examples of experimental and analytical methods used to provide confidence in the theoretical basis, numerical implementation, and validity of PDFA methods are discussed.