Evolution of interlayer and intralayer cracks under compressive fatigue in composites

An investigation into the growth behavior of interlayer and intralayer cracks in delaminated cross-ply laminates subjected to fatigue compression is presented. Experimental data indicate different fatigue growth patterns for the two cases. The effects of mode mixity and position of the delamination in the formation of the cracks are studied. A mode-dependent fatigue growth law is applied in order to predict the behavior of the interlayer and interlayer cracks. Successful correlation of the analytical and test data is conducted for the interlayer cracks. For the intralayer cracks, addition of contact effects and local geometrical parameters in the model are suggested.

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