Peridynamic modeling of delaminations in laminated composite beams using refined zigzag theory

This study aims to model delaminations in laminated composite beams by using the PeriDynamic Differential Operator (PDDO) and Refined Zigzag Theory (RZT). A cohesive zone model is employed to monitor the delamination evolvement in laminated composite beams by embedding an interfacial resin layer between two potentially separable material layers. PDDO calculates the local derivatives in their nonlocal forms and produces highly accurate predictions for the solution of differential equations. RZT eliminates the consideration of shear correction factors and paves the way for modeling both thin and thick laminates. RZT enables computationally efficient analyses since it considers a constant number of kinematic variables regardless of the number of layers in the beam. The principle of virtual work is employed to derive the governing equations and boundary conditions of the RZT. The calculation of transverse normal and shear stresses at critical locations plays an important role in the delamination event. Therefore, this approach is promising for the delamination analysis of laminated composite beams. The present approach performs the nonlocal integration for the approximation of the local derivatives; hence, it reduces the undesirable localized stress peaks. It was demonstrated that the present approach successfully captured the deformation and stress fields as well as the delamination onset and evolvement of the laminated beams.