A refined model for the analysis of bridged interlaminar fracture in layered plates

摘要

The present work is concerned with a delamination model which provides an accurate estimation of crack tip interlaminar stresses and energy release rate components by also including fiber-bridging effects between crack faces. Interlaminar stresses are reconstructed by using a first-order shear deformable layer-wise kinematics for sub-laminates, whereas bridging stresses are modeled by a two-parameter softening damageable interface. An analysis, which predicts inititation and growth of delamination with fiber-bridging creation, is performed by solving numerically the governing incremental non-linear boundary value problem. The accuracy of results is substantiated by comparisons with plane strain finite element analyses obtained by using delamination interface elements. Closed form energy release rate components are obtained and shear effects on delamination behavior are thus evidenced.