Finite element simulation of scratch on polypropylene panels

Abstract Scratch simulation of polymeric materials has been a challenging task. It requires a material constitutive model that is capable of representing the complicated material response at large strains, and also a modelling method that can comprehensively resolve several physics, i.e., tribology, material deformation and damage, indenter statics and dynamics. This paper discussed the use of two finite element simulation approaches: (i) Abaqus/Explicit Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) adaptive meshing and (ii) the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL), in modelling scratches of talc-filled polypropylene using an elastic-plastic with isotropic hardening material model and a hyperelastic-viscoelastic model. The models were evaluated with scratch experiments and a very good agreement between the simulations and experiments was found. Various technical challenges in modelling scratch of polymeric materials were discussed and solved during the development of both successful methods and their merits and drawbacks were also discussed in detail.