Characterization and Simulation‐Based Analysis of the Damage Evolution of Carbon Fiber Composites Under Transverse Compression

ABSTRACT The deformation and failure mechanisms of carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are significantly complex, with both microstructural evolution and load‐bearing capacity undergoing progressive transformations under increasing external loads. In this study, integrated experimental characterization and finite element modeling were employed to conduct a quantitative analysis of damage initiation and failure progression in CFRP composites. Systematic investigation reveals the evolutionary patterns of porosity and pore dimensions during loading and elucidates the specimen degradation process from the initial state to final fracture. The quantitative results demonstrate an 18‐fold increase in material porosity (from 0.17% to 3.08%) and a 4.1‐fold increase in the maximum pore volume (from 1.06 × 10 ¹⁵ to 4.35 × 10 ¹⁵ nm ³ ) during the prefracture stage. The primary failure mechanism is crack nucleation through pore coalescence and propagation, followed by the development of characteristic fracture pathways that ultimately lead to structural failure. Advanced digital volume correlation (DVC) techniques were implemented to map full‐field strain distributions within the material microstructure. Concurrently, a representative volume element (RVE) model was established to numerically simulate deformation behavior and damage accumulation under loading conditions. The simulation results demonstrate accurate predictions of failure locations, fracture orientation, and crack propagation trajectories through strain field analysis. The comprehensive methodology presented in this study effectively validates its ability to characterize the mechanical behavior of CFRP composites throughout the complete loading spectrum.