Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.

Mixed-Mode Debonding of a
L ami na t e d C o m posi t e
Introduction
Interfacial failure by delamination or debonding is one of the main failure modes of
laminate structures. Interfacial failure can be simulated with a Cohesive Zone Model
(CZM). A key ingredient of a cohesive zone model is a traction-separation law that
describes the softening in the cohesive zone near the delamination tip. This example
shows the implementation of a CZM with a bilinear traction-separation law
implemented within the Thin Elastic Layer feature of the Solid Mechanics interface in
COMSOL Multiphysics. The capabilities of the CZM to predict mixed-mode
softening onset and delamination propagation are demonstrated in a model of
mixed-mode bending of a composite material.

Model Definition
COHESIVE ZONE MODEL (CZM)

The CZM implemented in this model is detailed in Ref. 1. The model is used to predict
crack propagation at the interface of a laminated composite beam under mixed-mode
loading. The material properties needed for this constitutive model are summarized in
Table 1.
Property

Symbol

Value

Normal tensile strength

Ns

80 MPa

Shear strength

Ss

100 MPa

Penalty stiffness

Kp

106 N/mm3

Mode I critical energy release

GIc

969 J/m2

Mode II critical energy release

GIIc

1719 J/m2

Exponent of Benzeggagh and Kenane (B-K) criterion

2.284

TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF THE CZM INTERFACE. THE VALUES ARE FOR AS4/PEEK.

The CZM considered here uses a bilinear traction-separation law. Traction increases
linearly with a stiffness Kp until the opening crack reaches a failure initiation

1 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

displacement u0. When the crack opens beyond u0 the material softens irreversibly and
the stiffness decreases as a function of the damage parameter d. The material fails once
the stiffness has decreased to zero. This happens at the ultimate displacement uf.
The values of u0 and uf depend on whether the separation displacement is normal
(mode I) or tangential (mode II and III) to an interface. In the following equations,
the index I refers to mode I delamination, II to mode II and m to mixed-mode.
The failure initiation displacement for mode I loading is
NS
u I0 = -------KP

(1)

SS
u II0 = ------KP

(2)

for mode II and mode III

The ultimate displacement is determined from the fracture toughness or critical energy
release for each mode:
2G IC
u If = -------------NS

(3)

2G IIC
u IIf = ---------------SS

(4)

For mode I it is assumed that no softening occurs in compression. The stiffness in

compression is thus the constant Kp.
The above is valid for pure mode loading. Mixed-mode loading is considered in the
next section.
MIXED-MODE SOFTENING

Let uI be the normal and uII the total tangential relative displacement at the interface.
The mixed mode relative displacement is defined as
um =

u I + u II

which is valid for uI > 0. The mode mixity is defined as the ratio

2 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

(5)

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

u II
= -------uI

(6)

With the help of this definition, mixed mode damage initiation is governed by
2

1+
u m0 = u I0 u II0 -----------------------------------2
2
u II0 + ( u I0 )

(7)

The mixed-mode total decohesion displacement is computed with the Benzeggagh

and Kenane (B-K) criterion
2
2
u mf = ------------------ G IC + ( G IIC G IC ) ---------------2
K p u m0
1 +

(8)

The stiffness at the laminate interface depends on the displacement history. In this
CZM, the history is captured with only one variable, the maximum mixed-mode
displacement umax at each point on the interface. With this maximum mixed-mode
displacement, the damage evolution function can be defined as
u mf ( u max u m0 )
d = -------------------------------------------u max ( u mf u m0 )

(9)

With the above equations, the stiffness of the interface becomes

K II

K P u max u m0

= ( 1 d )K P u m0 < u max < u mf

0 u max > u mf

(10)

for the tangential components and

K uI > 0
K I = II
KP uI 0

(11)

for the normal displacement.

3 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

MIXED-MODE BENDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE BEAM

The mixed-mode bending (MMB) test described in Ref. 2 is commonly used to

measure delamination resistance in composite materials. A model of this experimental
procedure demonstrates the capabilities of the CZM.

Fm
Roller edge
Symmetry boundaries
Fe

Initial crack

Roller edge

Figure 1: The model geometry is a beam of length lb, height hb and width wb. Due to
symmetry only half of the beam is drawn and a Symmetry boundary condition is applied.
There is an initial crack of length cl halfway through the thickness. The beam is supported
at the outermost bottom edges. A mixed-mode bending load is the result of forces applied
to the top edges at the cracked end and at the center of the beam.
The geometry of the test specimen is illustrated in Figure 1. A beam cracked along a
ply interface halfway through its thickness. The initial crack length is cl. The material
properties are those of AS4/PEEK unidirectional laminates. The orthotropic linear
elastic properties are listed in Table 2, assuming that the longitudinal direction is
aligned with the global x-direction. The material properties of the cohesive interface
are listed in Table 1.

4 |

Property

Symbol

Value

Youngs modulus

EX

122.7 GPa

Youngs modulus

EY=EZ

10.1 GPa

Poissons ratio

YZ

0.45

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Property

Symbol

Value

Poissons ratio

XY=XZ

0.25

Shear modulus

GYZ

3.7 GPa

Shear modulus

GXY=GXZ

5.5 GPa

TABLE 2: TABLE OF ORTHOTROPIC LINEAR ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF AS4/PEEK

The beam is supported on the bottom at its outer edges. A lever that sits on top of the
beam applies a load. The lever is also attached to the cracked end and swivels around
a contact area at the center of the beam. The lever is pushed down at the opposite free
end, thereby simultaneously applying mode I and mode II loads on the test specimen.
Arbitrary ratios of mixed-mode loading can be adjusted by varying the length of the
lever ll.
In this model, the lever is omitted. Instead, the forces that the lever transmits to the
beam are applied directly. A pulling force Fe is acting on the cracked side of the beam.
At the center, a force Fm pushes down. The desired mixed-mode ratio mm regulates
the ratio of their magnitudes lr via
6m m + 3m m ( 1 m m )
l r = 8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 + 9m m + 8 3m m ( 1 m m )

(12)

Further details on the background of the equation above can be found in Ref. 1 and
Ref. 2.

Results and Discussion

The model is computed for a mode ratio of 50%. The von Mises stress distribution of
the last computed parameter step is shown in Figure 2. At this step the initial crack has
propagated along the interface as depicted in Figure 3.

5 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Figure 2: The Von Mises stress distribution at the last computation step.

6 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Figure 3: Plot showing the health of the laminate interface. The debonded part is shown in
red, the intact part in green.
One of the outputs of the MMB test is a load-displacement curve. Both load and
displacement are measured at the end point of the lever that is used to apply the load
to the test specimen. Since the lever is not explicitly modeled, the load-displacement
data has to be deduced from the simulation results. Details of the analysis are contained
in Ref. 1 and Ref. 2 with the following result.
The force Flp at the load point of the lever can be determined from the load applied
to the cracked edge in the model Fe and the lengths of the test beam lb and load lever
ll:
lb 2
F lp = F e -----------ll

(13)

The length of the load lever above depends on the desired mode mixture mm:

7 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

1 mm
1

( l b 2 ) --- 3 ------------------- + 1
m
2

m
l l = --------------------------------------------------------------------1 mm
1
3 --- 3 -------------------
mm
2

(14)

Note, that ll measures the length from the center of the test specimen to the free end
of the load lever.
The displacement at the load point ulp is computed from the mode I opening at the
cracked edge uIe and the z-displacement at the center of the beam wc according to
3l l l b 2
ll + lb 2
u lp = ------------------------- u Ie + ---------------------- ( ( w c ) + u Ie 4 )
4 ( lb 2 )
lb 2

(15)

The resulting load-displacement curve is shown in Figure 4. The curve confirms what
Figure 3 displayed. The maximal load that the beam with the initial crack can carry is
exceeded and delamination propagation occurs.

Figure 4: Load-displacement curve of the MMB test at 50% mixed-mode loading.

8 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Notes About the COMSOL Implementation

To implement a Cohesive Zone Model in COMSOL Multiphysics use the Thin Elastic
Layer feature on the cohesive boundary. This feature has the option to define nonlinear
and even inelastic functions for the force-extension relationship.
To implement the Cohesive Zone Model, you first define the mode I and II
displacement components as local variables on the cohesive boundaries. The relative
displacement components of the Thin Elastic Layer are available as
solid.uspring1_tel1, solid.uspring2_tel1 and solid.uspring3_tel1
corresponding to the local x-, y- and z-directions. For a geometry oriented like in
Figure 1, the mode I displacement is in the direction of solid.uspring3_tel1 and
the mode II displacement is computed with the expression
sqrt(solid.uspring1_tel1^2+solid.uspring2_tel1^1).
With these definitions, you can enter Equation 5, Equation 6, Equation 7 and
Equation 8 as additional local variables.
The damage evolution function Equation 9 depends on the maximum umax of the
displacement history. You therefore have to keep track of the value of this maximum
at the previous computation step. Only if the current displacement is larger, you
update its value. You can implement this in COMSOL Multiphysics with the help of
an additional degree of freedom (DOF) on the cohesive boundaries. This new DOF is
introduced with the Boundary ODEs and DAEs interface. If you choose u_max_old as its
name, you use this interface to enter the algebraic equation
nojac(u_max)-u_max_old=0. The nojac() operator prevents this equation from
contributing to the Jacobian that is used in the nonlinear equation solver. Next, you
define u_max as another local variable with the expression max(u_max_old, u_m).
Here, u_m is the current mixed mode displacement. For this procedure to work as
intended, you also need to configure the solver to use the previous solution for
u_max_old. The details are described in the Modeling Instructions below.
The final steps are to enter Equation 10 as a last local variable stiffness, and the
expressions for Force per area as function of extension of the Thin Elastic Layer listed
below in the Modeling Instructions.
Because of the nonlinearity and history dependence of the CZM, it is necessary to solve
the model parametrically. The desired load is applied on the top edges of the beam.
The force-displacement curve in Figure 4 reveals that the applied forces are not
monotonically increasing functions that can be used for the parametric solver. You can
instead use the technique described in the Postbuckling Analysis of a Hinged

9 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Cylindrical Shell model example. Briefly, you add a Global Equation to your model
that adjusts the magnitude of the force on the edges until a desired load-point
displacement is reached.

Reference
1. P.P. Camanho, C.G. Davila, and M.F. De Moura, Numerical Simulation of
Mixed-mode Progressive Delamination in Composite Materials., Journal of
composite materials 37.16 (2003): 1415-1438.
2. J.R. Reeder, and J.R. Crews Jr., Mixed-mode bending method for delamination
testing., AiAA Journal 28.7 (1990): 1270-1276.
3. Postbuckling Analysis of a Hinged Cylindrical Shell, COMSOL Multiphysics.

Model Library path: Structural_Mechanics_Module/Contact_and_Friction/

cohesive_zone_debonding

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.
NEW

1 In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD

1 In the Model Wizard window, click 3D.

2 In the Select physics tree, select Structural Mechanics>Solid Mechanics (solid).
3 Click Add.
4 In the Select physics tree, select Mathematics>ODE and DAE Interfaces>Boundary ODEs
and DAEs (bode).
5 Click Add.
6 In the Field name text field, type u_max_old.
7 In the Dependent variables table, enter the following settings:
u_max_old

10 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

8 From the list, choose Length (m).

9 From the list, choose Length (m).
10 Click Study.
11 In the Select study tree, select Preset Studies for Selected Physics Interfaces>Stationary.
12 Click Done.
DEFINITIONS

Load all model parameters from a file containing parameters for the geometry, material
properties and boundary conditions.

Parameters
1 On the Model toolbar, click Parameters.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
cohesive_zone_debonding_parameter.txt.
GEOMETRY 1

Now draw the model geometry with three layered blocks.

Block 1 (blk1)
1 On the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width text field, type cl.
4 In the Depth text field, type wb/2.
5 In the Height text field, type hb.
6 Click to expand the Layers section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Layer name

Thickness (m)

Layer 1

hb/2

7 Right-click Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1>Block 1 (blk1) and choose Build

Selected.

Block 2 (blk2)
1 Right-click Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1>Block 1 (blk1) and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size section.

11 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

3 In the Width text field, type lb/2-cl.

4 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type cl.
5 Right-click Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1>Block 2 (blk2) and choose Build
Selected.

Block 3 (blk3)
1 Right-click Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1>Block 2 (blk2) and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width text field, type lb/2.
4 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type lb/2.
5 Right-click Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1>Block 3 (blk3) and choose Build
Selected.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

Form Union (fin)

On the Geometry toolbar, click Build All.
DEFINITIONS

Load all variables for the CZM and load point from files.

Variables 1
1 On the Model toolbar, click Variables and choose Local Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, type Cohesive Zone Model in the Label text

field.
3 Locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list,

choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundaries 6, 15, and 24 only.
5 Click Create Selection.

Create a selection of these boundaries for reuse.

6 In the Create Selection dialog box, type Cohesive Boundaries in the Selection name

text field.
7 Click OK.
8 In the Settings window for Variables, locate the Variables section.
9 Click Load from File.
10 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
cohesive_zone_debonding_constitutive_law.txt.

12 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Variables 2
1 On the Model toolbar, click Variables and choose Local Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, type Load Point Variables in the Label text

field.
3 Locate the Variables section. Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
cohesive_zone_debonding_load_point_variables.txt.

5 On the Definitions toolbar, click Component Couplings and choose Integration.

The following integration coupling operators make values of the selected points
globally available.

Integration 1 (intop1)
1 In the Settings window for Integration, type Integration Edge in the Label text

field.
2 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Point.
3 Select Point 2 only.
4 Locate the Advanced section. From the Frame list, choose Material (X, Y, Z).

Integration 2 (intop2)
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Component Couplings and choose Integration.
2 In the Settings window for Integration, type Integration Center in the Label text

field.
3 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Point.
4 Select Point 15 only.
5 Locate the Advanced section. From the Frame list, choose Material (X, Y, Z).
MATERIALS

Create a new material containing the orthotropic linear elastic properties of AS4/
PEEK.

Material 1 (mat1)
1 On the Materials toolbar, click Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type AS4/PEEK in the Label text field.

13 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

3 Click to expand the Material properties section. Locate the Material Properties

section. In the Material properties tree, select Solid Mechanics>Linear Elastic

Material>Orthotropic>Young's modulus (Evector).
4 Click Add to Material.
5 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Property

Name

Value

Unit

Property
group

Young's modulus

Evector

{122.7e9,10.1e9,10.1e9}

Pa

Orthotropic

Poisson's ratio

nuvector

{0.25, 0.45, 0.25}

Orthotropic

Shear modulus

Gvector

{5.5e9, 3.7e9, 5.5e9}

N/m

Orthotropic

Density

rho

1570

kg/m

Basic

SOLID MECHANICS (SOLID)

Linear Elastic Material 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid)

click Linear Elastic Material 1.

2 In the Settings window for Linear Elastic Material, locate the Linear Elastic Material

section.
3 From the Solid model list, choose Orthotropic.

Add the CZM to the interface halfway through the beam.

Thin Elastic Layer 1

1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Thin Elastic Layer.
2 In the Settings window for Thin Elastic Layer, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Cohesive Boundaries.
4 Locate the Spring section. From the Spring type list, choose Force per area as function
of extension.
5 Specify the FA vector as
stiffness*solid.uspring1_tel1

stiffness*solid.uspring2_tel1

if(u_I<0, Kp*solid.uspring3_tel1,
stiffness*solid.uspring3_tel1)

Symmetry 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Symmetry.

14 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

2 Select Boundaries 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, and 23 only.

Edge Load 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Edges and choose Edge Load.
2 In the Settings window for Edge Load, type Load on cracked Edge (Fe) in the
Label text field.
3 Select Edge 7 only.
4 Locate the Force section. From the Load type list, choose Total force.
5 Specify the Ftot vector as
0

force

Edge Load 2
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Edges and choose Edge Load.
2 In the Settings window for Edge Load, type Load on middle Edge (Fm) in the
Label text field.
3 Select Edge 33 only.
4 Locate the Force section. From the Load type list, choose Total force.
5 Specify the Ftot vector as
0

-lr*force

Prescribed Displacement 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Edges and choose Prescribed Displacement.
2 In the Settings window for Prescribed Displacement, locate the Edge Selection

section.
3 Click Paste Selection.
4 In the Paste Selection dialog box, type 2, 41 in the Selection text field.
5 Click OK.
6 In the Settings window for Prescribed Displacement, locate the Prescribed
Displacement section.
7 Select the Prescribed in z direction check box.

15 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Prescribed Displacement 2
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Points and choose Prescribed Displacement.
2 Select Point 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Prescribed Displacement, locate the Prescribed
Displacement section.
4 Select the Prescribed in x direction check box.
5 In the Model Builder windows toolbar, click the Show button and select Advanced
Physics Options in the menu.

This is to make the Global Equations feature visible. Add that next to control the
applied load with a monotonically increasing parameter.

Global Equations 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Global and choose Global Equations.
2 In the Settings window for Global Equations, locate the Global Equations section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name

f(u,ut,utt,t) (1)

Initial value (u_0) (1)

Initial value (u_t0) (1/s)

force

disp-u_lp

4 Locate the Units section. Find the Dependent variable quantity subsection. From the

list, choose Force load (N).

5 Find the Source term quantity subsection. From the list, choose Length (m).
BOUNDAR Y ODES AND DAES (BODE)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Boundary ODEs and
DAEs (bode).
2 In the Settings window for Boundary ODEs and DAEs, locate the Boundary
Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Cohesive Boundaries.
4 In the Model Builder windows toolbar, click the Show button and select Discretization

in the menu.
This step makes the Discretization settings of all physics visible. The CZM
constitutive variables should be evaluated at integration points inside elements. You
achieve that with the following settings.
5 Click to expand the Discretization section. From the Shape function type list, choose
Gauss point data.

16 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

6 From the Element order list, choose 4.

7 From the Frame list, choose Material.

Distributed ODE 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Boundary ODEs and DAEs
(bode) click Distributed ODE 1.
2 In the Settings window for Distributed ODE, locate the Source Term section.
3 In the f text field, type 0.
4 Locate the Damping or Mass Coefficient section. In the da text field, type 0.

Initial Values 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Boundary ODEs and DAEs
(bode) click Initial Values 1.
2 In the Settings window for Initial Values, locate the Initial Values section.
3 In the umaxold text field, type 1e-12.

Initial Values 2
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Initial Values.
2 In the Settings window for Initial Values, type Initial Values Debonded in the
Label text field.
3 Select Boundary 6 only.
4 Locate the Initial Values section. In the umaxold text field, type u_I_f*10.

This value certainly exceeds the mixed-mode ultimate displacement. This part of the
laminate interface is therefore debonded.

Algebraic Equation 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Algebraic Equation.
2 In the Settings window for Algebraic Equation, locate the Boundary Selection

section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Cohesive Boundaries.
4 Locate the Algebraic Equation section. In the f text field, type
nojac(u_max)-u_max_old.
MESH 1

On the Mesh toolbar, click Boundary and choose Mapped.

Mapped 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Mesh 1 click Mapped 1.

17 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

2 Select Boundaries 7, 16, and 25 only.

Distribution 1
1 Right-click Component 1 (comp1)>Mesh 1>Mapped 1 and choose Distribution.
2 Select Edge 20 only.
3 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Distribution section.
4 In the Number of elements text field, type 4.

Size 1
1 Right-click Mapped 1 and choose Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 From the Predefined list, choose Extremely fine.
4 Click the Custom button.
5 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. Select the Maximum element size check

box.
6 In the associated text field, type 0.00204/2.
7 Click the Build Selected button.
8 On the Mesh toolbar, click Swept.

Distribution 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Mesh 1 right-click Swept
1 and choose Distribution.
2 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Distribution section.
3 In the Number of elements text field, type 2.
4 Click the Build All button.
STUDY 1

Configure the solver and enable tracking the history of the maximum mixed-mode
displacement.

Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Select the Include geometric nonlinearity check box.
4 Click to expand the Study extensions section. Locate the Study Extensions section.

Select the Auxiliary sweep check box.

18 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

5 Click Add.
6 In the table, enter the following settings:
Parameter name

Parameter value list

disp

range(0,1.0e-4,0.006)

Parameter unit

Solution 1
1 On the Study toolbar, click Show Default Solver.
2 In the Model Builder window, expand the Solution 1 node.
3 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1>Solver Configurations>Solution
1>Stationary Solver 1 node, then click Parametric 1.
4 In the Settings window for Parametric, click to expand the Continuation section.
5 From the Predictor list, choose Constant.
6 Right-click Study 1>Solver Configurations>Solution 1>Stationary Solver 1>Parametric
1 and choose Previous Solution.

With the following steps, you set up u_max_old to hold the solution of the previous
computation step.
7 In the Settings window for Previous Solution, locate the Previous Solution section.
8 Under Variables, click Add.
9 In the Add dialog box, select Dependent variable u_max_old (comp1.u_max_old) in the
Variables list.
10 In the Variables list, select Dependent variable u_max_old (comp1.u_max_old).
11 Click OK.
12 In the Model Builder window, click Study 1.
13 In the Settings window for Study, locate the Study Settings section.
14 Clear the Generate default plots check box.

You will create your own results plots after the solution.
15 On the Study toolbar, click Compute.
RESULTS

Create plots for the von Mises stress distribution, the state of debonding at the
interface and the load-displacement curve.
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results node.

19 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

Data Sets
First add selections to the data sets in preparation of the stress plot.
1 On the Results toolbar, click Selection.
2 In the Settings window for Selection, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domains 1, 3, and 5 only.
5 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Data Sets right-click Study 1/Solution 1

and choose Duplicate.

6 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Data Sets>Study 1/Solution 1 (2)

node, then click Selection.

7 In the Settings window for Selection, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
8 Click Clear Selection.
9 Select Domains 2, 4, and 6 only.
10 On the Results toolbar, click 3D Plot Group.

Add a plot for the Von Mises stress distribution.

3D Plot Group 1
1 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Stress (solid) in the Label text

field.
2 On the 3D plot group toolbar, click Volume.

Stress (solid)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Stress (solid) click Volume 1.
2 In the Settings window for Volume, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type solid.mises.
4 From the Unit list, choose MPa.
5 Right-click Results>Stress (solid)>Volume 1 and choose Deformation.
6 In the Settings window for Deformation, locate the Scale section.
7 Select the Scale factor check box.
8 In the associated text field, type 1.
9 Right-click Volume 1 and choose Duplicate.
10 In the Settings window for Volume, locate the Data section.
11 From the Data set list, choose Study 1/Solution 1 (2).

20 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

12 Click to expand the Inherit style section. Locate the Inherit Style section. From the
Plot list, choose Volume 1.
13 On the 3D plot group toolbar, click Plot.
14 Click the Go to Default 3D View button on the Graphics toolbar.
15 On the Model toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot Group.

Next, add a plot showing the state of debonding at the laminate interface.

3D Plot Group 2
1 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Interface health in the Label

text field.
2 On the 3D plot group toolbar, click Surface.

Interface health
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Interface health click Surface 1.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type u_max>u_m_f.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, choose Traffic.

This choice plots the debonded part in red while the healthy part remains green.
5 Click the Go to Default 3D View button on the Graphics toolbar.
6 On the Model toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.

The following plot corresponds to the load-displacement output of the MMB test.

1D Plot Group 3
1 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Load-displacement curve in the
Label text field.

Load-displacement curve
1 On the 1D plot group toolbar, click Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Expression

Unit

2*F_lp

Description

The factor 2 is due to the model symmetry.

21 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0

4 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression

Unit

Description

2*F_lp

Load

5 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Expression.
6 In the Expression text field, type u_lp.
7 From the Unit list, choose mm.
8 Click to expand the Legends section. Clear the Show legends check box.
9 On the 1D plot group toolbar, click Plot.

Derived Values
1 On the Results toolbar, click Global Evaluation.

Finally, evaluate the maximal load that this beam can carry under this loading
condition.
2 In the Settings window for Global Evaluation, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type 2*F_lp.

Again, the factor 2 is due to model symmetry.

4 Locate the Data Series Operation section. From the Operation list, choose Maximum.
5 Click the Evaluate button.
TABLE

Go to the Table window.

22 |

MIXED-MODE DEBONDING OF A LAMINATED COMPOSITE