Numerical and digital image correlation analysis of tensile behavior of thin-ply hybrid laminates with discontinuous carbon sandwiched by continuous glass and carbon

Thin-ply hybrid laminates of glass and carbon fibers have been widely adopted in engineering pseudo-ductility. In this study, a Finite Element model is proposed using Abaqus to predict pseudo-ductility in thin-ply laminates consisting of three materials. These materials comprise continuous carbon (CC) and continuous glass sandwiching partial discontinuous carbon (DC). The model adopts the Hashin criterion for damage initiation in the fibers and the mixed-mode Benzeggagh-Kenane criterion on cohesive surfaces for delamination initiation and propagation. Numerically predicted stress–strain results are verified with experimental results under tensile loading. Results show pseudo-ductility increases with the increase in DC layers, and pseudo-yield strength and strain increase with the increase in CC layers. 3D-Digital Image Correlation results indicate delamination growth on pseudo-ductile laminates, and the calculated Poisson’s ratios show pseudo-ductility occurs below 0.27. Moreover, Poisson’s ratio decreases with an increase in pseudo-ductility.