Degradation of material parameters in the wake of damage is relevant for a fast analysis of damage tolerance as well as for the post buckling analysis. The reliable description of fibre crack, delamination, and skin-stringer debonding is essential for these analyses.
Macroscopic models are preferred for the implementation of fast simulation tools. Several degradation methods have been proposed without proving their practical applicability for delamination in particular. The challenge consists in the analysis, the improvement and experimental validation of powerful degradation models. The Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems investigates multi-scale approaches in cooperation with CNES, ONERA and Airbus.
The development of new methods for residual strength calculation of damaged composites servers the exploitation of existing material reserves and, in consequence, weight reduction.