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Nowadays, the use of composite materials in aeronautics has become more and more frequent. This shift triggers new challenges linked to the modelling of this new material type. One of those is the prediction of damage induced by an impact. The present work makes a further step in this field by studying delamination that occurs during such events. To this end, it has been decided to carry out simulations in which the initial composites are decomposed in lamina separated by layers made of cohesive elements. Those elements, whose action can be assimilated to glue, aim to represent the behaviour of the interface present between two successive plies of a composite material. The main goal of this report consists in defining an optimal characterisation of the cohesive layer in the software Abaqus in order to be able to predict delamination with accuracy in industrial applications.
The strategy adopted to reach this objective is first to perform calibration tests, namely Double Cantilever Beam (DCB), Edge Notched Failure (ENF) and Mixed-Mode Bending (MMB) tests, in order to evaluate the respective influence of each cohesive parameter on the simulations. In the DCB and ENF cases, the simulations obtained with Abaqus are compared to results computed using a Python code based on the software Gmsh. The purpose of this comparison is to ensure the validity and robustness of the numerical simulations generated by Abaqus. Finally, the set of parameters leading to the simulations fitting the best reality is adopted in the subsequent investigations.
Once this first step is concluded, the obtained cohesive model is applied to a low-velocity impact test. This test is of prime importance in the aeronautic field since the damage it induces is often not easily detectable. often not easily detectable. Evaluating the properties degradation of the composite material is thus crucial to ensure the safety of the aircraft. The simulations are then compared to experimental data. It finally turns out that both exhibit similar trends, which gives further credence to the selected model.
To conclude this work, other possible applications of the model developed here are highlighted. These include in particular delamination prediction in stringers when impacted at low velocity and estimation of damage triggered on a slat by a high-velocity impact, such as a bird impact.

Delaminaton --- DCB --- ENF --- MMB --- cohesive layer --- Abaqus --- Impact --- Composite --- low-velocity impact --- Ingénierie, informatique & technologie > Ingénierie aérospatiale