In this study, laminated composites consisting of LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), Al-foil (Aluminum foil) and an adhesive interface layer is focused. The defects like necking in LDPE, Al-foil layer and interfacial delamination can significantly impact the loading capacity of the laminated material. However, the influence mechanisms of the defects are still unclear, and no appropriate research tool is available. Therefore, the FEM model based on already available techniques in ABAQUS is developed in this work. The aim with the model is to create a robust numerical analysis tool for further research work.

In the modeling process, possibility of necking in substrates and interfacial delamination between material layers is considered. The constitutive material behaviour is elastic-plastic complemented with progressive damage, based on Hooke’s Law, the J2 yield criterion, isotropic hardening, associated flow-rule and ductile damage model are formulated to demonstrate necking behavior of substrates. In ABAQUS, three modeling techniques, namely VCCT, Cohesive Element, and XFEM, have been used to simulate interfacial delamination. The simulation results are compared with the theoretical results.

A uniaxial tension test consisting of a two material laminate is simulated by using these three modeling techniques. The special modelling skills for respective modeling techniques, element type, meshing technique of each model, are also introduced. The comparison with the theoretical results shows necking in substrates and interfacial delamination are also achieved in all three models as expected. Deformation results of the simulation are very close to that of the theoretical analysis. Technique features of VCCT, Cohesive Element and XFEM in modelling of interfacial delamination are analyzed and concluded. These three FEM models can all be utilized according to the requirements of subsequent research.