Fatigue Life Prediction of Composite Materials with LS-DYNA

The occurring failure modes and their dedicated tolerated number of load cycles of composite parts are influenced by many parameters. Parameters like fiber-orientation und fiber-content, environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, chemical and physical aging, dissipation of energy and residual stresses emerging during the production process have a wide impact on the fatigue life of composite parts. Therefore it is very important to consider the main influencing factors and to find an adequate failure criterion for the virtual fatigue-prediction of composite parts. The principal method and the occurring effects are shown on the basis of examples from the automotive industry.