Peridynamic unit cell enabled finite element modeling of fiber steered composites

This study presents an approach based on traditional finite elements and peridynamic unit cell (PDUC) to perform structural analysis of fiber steered composite laminates. Effective material property matrix for each ply in the plate element is computed by employing the PDUC based on the orientation of the fiber path and orthotropic ply properties. Each element defines the unit cell domain if the element shape is rectangular. Otherwise, the rectangle that circumscribes the element defines the domain of the unit cell. The element stiffness matrix is constructed through a traditional finite element implementation. This approach provides an accurate and simple modeling of variable angle tow laminates. It can be readily integrated in commercially available finite element programs.