Failure assessment of layered composites subject to impact loadings: a finite element, sigma-point Kalman filter approach (Q1662482)

Summary: We present a coupled finite element, Kalman filter approach to foresee impactinduced delamination of layered composites when mechanical properties are partially unknown. Since \textit{direct} numerical simulations, which require all the constitutive parameters to be assigned, cannot be run in such cases, an \textit{inverse} problem is formulated to allow for modeling as well as constitutive uncertainties. Upon space discretization through finite elements and time integration through the explicit \(\alpha\)-method, the resulting nonlinear stochastic state model, wherein nonlinearities are due to delamination growth, is attacked with sigma-point Kalman filtering. Comparison with experimental data available in the literature and concerning inter-laminar failure of layered composites subject to low-velocity impacts, shows that the proposed procedure leads to: an accurate description of the failure mode; converged estimates of inter-laminar strength and toughness in good agreement with experimental data.