Multiscale Finite Element Analysis of Progressive Failure in Fiber-Reinforced Composite Structures

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced composite structures are widely utilized in aerospace, automotive, marine, and advanced engineering applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, superior stiffness, and excellent fatigue resistance. However, progressive failure mechanisms occurring at multiple material scales significantly influence their structural reliability and long-term performance under complex loading conditions. This study presents a multiscale finite element analysis framework for investigating progressive failure behavior in fiber-reinforced composite structures to improve failure prediction accuracy and structural design optimization. The proposed methodology integrates microscale material modeling, mesoscale damage analysis, and macroscale structural simulation techniques to evaluate stress distribution, crack propagation, matrix degradation, fiber breakage, and interfacial delamination mechanisms under mechanical loading. A computational approach based on multiscale finite element analysis was implemented to capture the interaction between constituent material phases and overall structural response. Progressive damage models and failure criteria were incorporated to simulate the initiation and evolution of damage under varying loading and boundary conditions. Simulation results demonstrated that the multiscale modeling framework effectively predicted failure progression, stiffness degradation, and residual strength characteristics in composite structures with high accuracy compared with conventional single-scale analysis approaches. The analysis also revealed the critical influence of fiber orientation, material interface properties, and loading conditions on damage evolution and structural stability.