Fracture Analysis of Interlaminar Cracking

Abstract This article details a method for treating interlaminar cracking (delamination) in polymer-based fiber-reinforced composite laminates. The method is developed on the basis of observing the physical characteristics of delamination on the phenomenological scale, interpret the visual findings and model the initiation and propagation mechanisms within the concepts of the classical fracture mechanics. The method is then incorporated into a finite-element simulation procedure for actual delamination processes in specific laminate situations. Thus, this article consists of discussions on three main parts: one part on the physical characteristics as they are observed in actual experiments, one part on the logical formulation of the analysis method and one part on the simulation of some specific laminates with numerical results and experimental correlations. The finite-element procedure used in the simulation is discussed in the appendix at the end of this article for ready reference.