Numerical Framework for Damage Prediction in Composite Structures
We developed a multiscale Dynamically Data-Driven Applications Systems Interactive Structure Composite Element Relation Network (DISCERN) framework that can reliably predict the onset and progressions of structural damage in geometrically and materially complex aerospace composite structures operating in the realistic environments. The model can be seen as a synthesis of progressive and fatigue damage model occurring on micro-, meso-, and macroscales and sensor and measurement data. The framework is enhanced with parametric modeling tools based on Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) for structural optimization.
Fatigue-loading of CX-100 blade at NWTC and progression of damage index in radial direction along the blade at thru thickness location corresponding to DBM layer at root region. 3D view on HP side (top) and zoomed on a root region of LP side.
In DISCERN framework the sensor and measurement data collected for a given physical system are used to dynamically update a computational model of that system. Using measurement data, the computational model geometry, boundary conditions, forcing, and material parameters may be updated to better represent physical reality. At the same time, the properly updated computational model can produce higher-fidelity outputs for the quantities of interest for which measurements are not readily available, and provide feedback to a measurement system. The developed multiscale DISCERN framework is successfully deployed on a full-scale laminated composite structure to accurately predict the damage onset, evolution, and the structure remaining fatigue life under various dynamic behaviour of the structure at full spatial scale and realistic conditions. It was tested on fatigue damage prediction in multilayer composite wind turbine blades and progressive damage in main structural components of UAV under various maneuvers.
Integration of fatigue damage model with FSI for fatigue damage prediction in Micon 65/13M wind turbine. (Right: propagation of damage in matrix direction at the thru-thickness location corresponding to DBM layer at the root over 100 millions revolutions).