Multiscale Modeling of Curing and Crack Propagation in Fiber-Reinforced Thermosets

Abstract

During the production of fiber-reinforced thermosets, the resin material undergoes a reaction that can lead to damage. A two-stage polymerization reaction is modeled using molecular dynamics and evaluations of the system including a fiber surface are performed. In addition, a phase-field model for crack propagation in heterogeneous systems is derived. This model is able to predict crack growth where established models fail. Finally, the model is used to predict crack formation during curing.