Evaluations on VCCT and CZM methods of delamination propagation simulation for composite specimens

Fiber-reinforced composite laminates are widely used in aerospace and other fields. Delamination damage is the main damage form of laminates, which has always been one of the focus problems of composite mechanics. Virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) and cohesive zone modeling (CZM) are two well-known numerical methods frequently used for crack propagation modeling. In this study, to better understand the advantages and limitations of these two methods, as well as the process of practical application, the evaluations on them are conducted. A double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen, an end notched flexure (ENF) specimen, and a mixed-mode bending (MMB) specimen as benchmark examples are modeled in ABAQUS. The mode I, mode II, and mixed-mode (I + II) delamination initiation and propagation behaviors of unidirectional specimens are simulated using two above methods. Finite element (FE) results are compared with experimental results available in the literature to verify the validity of the FE models. Finally, the accuracy, convergence speed, run-time, mesh dependency, and influence of modeling parameters of each method are discussed based on the simulation of DCB test.