Crashworthiness analysis of composite materials using the Ladeveze damage model in Abaqus with UMAT

The crashworthiness of composite materials is a critical area of research in the aerospace industry, particularly for improving structural integrity and safety. Compared to traditional metallic structures, composite materials offer advantages such as higher strength-to-weight ratio, improved fatigue resistance, and tailored mechanical properties. However, their failure mechanisms, particularly under impact and progressive damage, require advanced modeling approaches. This thesis focuses on the implementation of a user-defined material subroutine (UMAT) in Abaqus using the Ladeveze damage model for composite shell elements. The Ladeveze model, widely recognized for its accuracy in predicting progressive damage and delamination, is integrated into the finite element framework to analyze the crashworthiness behavior of composite structures. A series of numerical simulations are conducted to evaluate damage evolution, fiber failure, and matrix cracking under various loading conditions. At this stage, the developed UMAT is still undergoing testing and verification. Preliminary results indicate that the model can capture essential damage mechanisms, but further refinement and validation against experimental data are required. Future work will focus on improving the UMAT implementation, optimizing material parameters, and extending the model to more complex 3D structures and dynamic loading conditions to enhance its predictive capabilities.