Dynamic failure and crash simulation of carbon fiber sheet moulding compound (CF‑SMC)

Carbon fiber sheet moulding compounds (CF-SMC) are a promising class of materials with the potential to replace aluminium and steel in many structural automotive applications. In this paper, we investigate the use of CF-SMC materials for
the realization of a lightweight battery case for electric cars. A limiting factor for a wider structural adoption of CF-SMC has
been a difculty in modelling its mechanical behaviour with a computational efective methodology. In this paper, a novel
simulation methodology has been developed, with the aim of enabling the use of FE methods based on shell elements. This
is practical for the car industry since they can retain a good fdelity and can also represent damage phenomena. A hybrid
material modelling approach has been implemented using phenomenological and simulation-based principles. Data from
computer tomography scans were used for micro mechanical simulations to determine stifness and failure behaviour of the
material. Data from static three-point bending tests were then used to determine crack energy values needed for the application of hashing damage criteria. The whole simulation methodology was then evaluated against data coming from both static
and dynamic (crash) tests. The simulation results were in good accordance with the experimental data.