Integrated testing and modelling of composite structures – a journey towards virtual testing and certification by analysis
Topic(s) : Special Sessions
Co-authors :
Ole T. THOMSEN (UNITED KINGDOM), Janice M. DULIEU-BARTON (UNITED KINGDOM), Stephen HALLETT (UNITED KINGDOM), Richard BUTLER (UNITED KINGDOM), Andrew T RHEAD (UNITED KINGDOM)Abstract :
A major inhibitors to the uptake of composites is that current regulations, codes and standards are non-optimal or even insufficient for composites. Further, current practices including the well-established building block approach (or testing pyramid) used by the aerospace and other industries for certification of large composite structures, is time consuming, costly and overly conservative, to the detriment of time to market, cost, performance and environmental footprint in terms of emissions due to penalty mass. The Programme Grant “Certification for Design: Reshaping the Testing Pyramid” (CerTest – www.composites-certest.com) funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council seeks to break this impasse. CerTest aims to develops an alternative and more efficient methodology for the performance validation and certification of composite structures, by reducing the reliance on physical testing, and move towards a novel paradigm for validation/certification by analysis.
This necessitates that novel methodologies are developed and integrated including (but not limited to) multi-scale modelling tools to predict load-response, damage and failure at suitable length scales; design of advanced physical tests for model validation; development of novel data-rich and full field experimental methods to provide physical data of sufficient richness and accuracy for model validation; development of statistical methodologies based on Bayesian statistics and Design of Experiments for data fusion and uncertainty quantification to account for variability at all process stages. The final goal is to device strategies utilizing the above methodologies to provide a fully integrated experimental and digital tool chain for performance validation and ultimately certification of composite systems and structures.
The paper will discuss the key research challenges and progress to date covering elements of the novel methodologies outlined above.
This necessitates that novel methodologies are developed and integrated including (but not limited to) multi-scale modelling tools to predict load-response, damage and failure at suitable length scales; design of advanced physical tests for model validation; development of novel data-rich and full field experimental methods to provide physical data of sufficient richness and accuracy for model validation; development of statistical methodologies based on Bayesian statistics and Design of Experiments for data fusion and uncertainty quantification to account for variability at all process stages. The final goal is to device strategies utilizing the above methodologies to provide a fully integrated experimental and digital tool chain for performance validation and ultimately certification of composite systems and structures.
The paper will discuss the key research challenges and progress to date covering elements of the novel methodologies outlined above.