This article studies progressive failure and ultimate strength prediction of sandwich
composite hat-stringer-stiffened panels subjected to the transverse in-plane loads. By
using the finite element software ABAQUS and the nonlinear finite element
method, a failure criterion and a rigid degradation mode of interwoven fibers
have been found, a set of finite element analysis methods for predicting the
ultimate strength of sandwich composite hat-stringer-stiffened panels has
been established. It has been verified the better accuracy of this method in
predicting the ultimate strength and mechanical properties of sandwich composite
hat-stringer-stiffened panels by comparing with the experimental results.
Finally, the paper analyzes some factors affecting the numerical simulation of
progressive failure and ultimate strength and discusses how to improve the
accuracy of predicting the behavior of sandwich composite hat-stringer-stiffened
panels.