Mode I Interlaminar Fracture of Glass/Epoxy Unidirectional Laminates. Part II: Numerical Analysis

Abstract

The paper deals with numerical analysis of double cantilever beam (DCB) predefined to Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Tests of GRFP unidirectional laminates. The numerical analyses were performed in the ANSYS® program based on the finite element. In geometrically nonlinear analysis, two algorithms, responsible for initiation and propagation of delamination front, were applied: Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT) and Cohesive zone method (CZM). Due to the unidirectional arrangement of layers of the laminate, the problem of DCB test was solved with the use of one- and three-dimensional models with the implementation of linear interface element and contact element. The present study highlights the limitations of existing formulae used to reliably reflect the behavior of DCB. The use of three-dimensional models allowed confirming the curved shape of the delamination front observed in experimental studies. The application of the VCCT in the three-dimensional model led to an underestimation of the global response (force–opening displacement curve) recorded during numerical DCB test.

Experimental Investigation of Delamination in Composite Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Laminates with Elastic Couplings

“…Many experiments were prepared on the mode I fracture of multidirectional laminates with different delamination interfaces [ 3 , 4 ]. Apart from experimental investigation several authors conducted numerical analysis on delamination problem in the continuous fiber-reinforced laminates [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. When delamination propagates between different oriented layers, various undesirable phenomena such as mode-mixity and crack jumping to neighbor interface may occur [ 12 ].…”

Thermoplastic Composites and Their Promising Applications in Joining and Repair Composites Structures: A Review

“…Other relevant example of CZM application to modelling structures is delamination in laminated composite materials [ 121 , 132 ]. On the other hand, as shown by Samborski et al [ 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 144 , 145 ] also the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) implemented in many contemporary FE codes, works well from the point of view of modelling delamination in layered structures, such as the FRPs.…”

Composite-to-Metal Tubular Lap Joint Under Torsional Loading

“…The least time-consuming calculation method for predicting the TLTL is an analytical calculation [Gay 2003]. This method simplifies the real stress behaviour τtr (frictional shear stress component) to the average value τa.…”

“…The virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) calculates the SERR, respecting that the energy needed to separate two surfaces is equal to the energy to close them [Gliszczynski 2019, Vigroux 2009, Krueger 2015. This unique technique calculates iteratively the crack growth based on fracture mechanics using the nonlinear analysis with the help of convergence and stabilization algorithms.…”