Development and implementation of a parameter estimation and post-processing tool for the failure analysis of composite materials

In engineering practice, the barrier for the application of a superior, mode based, failure model like for example the Puck Criterion [1] is still quite large compared to simpler phenomenological models like the Tsai-Wu criterion [2]. The reasons being that the latter is often applicable as a user sub-routine in finite element codes and since the related experimental data naturally shows a large scatter, a robust routine for the parameter estimation is needed to exploit the advantages of a more sophisticated failure mode based model. In this paper a free to use numerical tool is presented that helps to overcome the aforementioned barriers and facilitates the application of Puck’s Failure criterion for structural integrity analysis. The tool offers two modules: the first helping with the parameter estimation and determination of the related confidence intervals, the second module performing a structural integrity analysis using FE stress data. The latter giving both, the critical failure location and the leading failure mode which are important information for a design optimization.