Hygrothermal progressive damage model for resin-infused thermoplastic non-crimp fabric composites

This paper presents a hygrothermal progressive damage model for resin-infused thermoplastic (Elium®) non-crimp fabric (NCF) composites [0,90] _n. A micro-mechanics-based analytical model is proposed to determine the thermal and moisture expansion coefficients of NCF composites, while the degradation in the elastic constants and strength parameters at different ageing temperatures (35 °C and 70 °C) is estimated using empirical models to predict the damage response of aged and unaged NCF composites. The accuracy of the proposed hygrothermal model was evaluated by simulating quasi-static tensile and compression tests, along with dynamic low-velocity impact tests conducted at impact energies of 30 J and 90 J, on both unaged and aged NCF composites under conditions of 35 °C and 70 °C. The finite element predictions were compared with the experimental results. The model accurately predicted the static and dynamic responses and damage severity in unaged and aged NCF composites, highlighting the reliability of the developed model for design applications. Thus, the model and methodology described in this paper provide a reliable tool for engineers in the marine, aerospace, and automotive industries to enhance design accuracy, ensuring durability and long-term reliable performance and safety.