Delamination growth prediction using a finite element approach

Adaptive hierarchical enrichment for delamination fracture using a decohesive zone model

“…The load now reduces with both cracks opening although the lower crack now moves twice as fast as the upper crack (see states (f)-(h) in Figure 11). In relation to the main observations regarding the fully open (and hence visible) cracks, the earlier numerical predictions tie in well with the physical evidence [10]. A visualization of the predicted form for the last increment is given in Figure 12.…”

“…For material model A (Table IV) factored by ÿve. As discussed in Reference [23], the higher are the strengths, the more closely do the ÿnite element solutions approach both the experimental results ( Figure 8, [10]) and a 'pure fracture mechanics solution' [23]. These issues will be elaborated later.…”

“…The specimen, which was tested by Robinson et al [10], was deÿned earlier in Figure 5 with the material properties being given in Table IV. These relate to a (0 24 ) uni-directional carbonepoxy composite.…”

“…The requirement is that, at the front, the strain-energy release rate, G, should be less than or equal to the critical strain-energy release rate, G c . This process does not ÿt naturally into the ÿnite element context and special methods have been developed which provide an outer loop around the ÿnite element method [8][9][10]. An alternative approach, which we will consider here, involves the decohesive zone model [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Finite element interface models for the delamination analysis of laminated composites: mechanical and computational issues

“…Furthermore, they cannot be used to predict the initiation of the delamination and, therefore, they are restricted to problems in which the initial position of the crack, or ow, is known. Even for 2-D applications, problems arise when more than one crack propagate simultaneously [8]. For these reasons, a great e ort has been made to develop strategies in which the mechanical behaviour of the interface is modelled on the basis of damage mechanics and=or softening plasticity combined with an indirect introduction of fracture mechanics [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”