Abstract

The present work includes a summary of the doctoral thesis entitled "Complexity of the structural response of fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites". This PhD thesis focused on analyzing the nonlinear mechanical response of a set of stacking sequences, with main interest in angle-ply laminates, to detail the stress-strain behaviour under a range of loading states: uniaxial tension/compression, loading-unloading-reloading tensile tests, three-point bending and plane stress states. The aim is to delve into the mechanisms of coupling and damage and their influence on the mechanical behaviour, in some cases highly nonlinear, aiming to achieve that the material withstands large strains with the consequent delay of the final failure and the increase in energy absorption capacity. Thanks to the characterization through standard testing, it is possible to calibrate material models based on progressive damage, providing two different numerical approaches which are tested against the different experimentally generated states of plane stress. In addition, it is worth mentioning the biaxial tests on cruciform specimens under different loading ratios, which provide experimental data closer to the actual response of composite structures in service. These tests, due to their greater complexity and lack of standardization, are analyzed in detail by applying numerical simulations and analytical models that ensure the validity of the results, highlighting the possible instabilities generated in the presence of compressive loads.