Transverse cracking of orthotropic composite laminates: a fracture mechanics approach

Abstract

This research is concerned with the fracture mechanics of a laminated composite medium, which contains a central layer sandwiched by two outer layers. There is a periodic array of cracks in the central layer along the central axis of the medium. Fourier transform is used to reduce the problem to the solution of a system of dual integral equations, which are solved by the singular integral equation technique. Rigorous fracture mechanics analysis, which exactly satisfies all boundary conditions of the problem, is conducted. Numerical solutions for the crack tip field and the stress in the medium are obtained for various values such as crack length, crack spacing and layer thickness. Results are also given for the reduction of the equivalent Young's modulus of the laminate due to multiple cracking. The cases of axial extension and residual temperature change of the composite medium are accounted for.

Aeroelastic analysis of composite blades with matrix cracking and uncertainties

“…Singh and Talreja (2010) presented a synergistic damage mechanics approach for composite laminates with matrix cracks in multiple orientations. The interaction between the Ϯ m cracks is analyzed in terms of the crack surface displacements using a three-dimensional finite element model and found to be significant only for crack orientations close to 90 n. Wang and Han (2010) developed a fracture mechanics-based matrix crack model for a laminated composite medium, which contains a central layer sandwiched by two outer layers. Barbero et al (2011) presented a damage constitutive model in conjunction with a 2-D finite element discretization for predicting onset and evolution of matrix cracking and subsequent stiffness reduction of symmetric composite laminates with arbitrary stacking sequence subjected to membrane loads.…”