Finite element analysis of transverse cracking behaviour in hybrid angle-ply composite laminates

摘要

The authors previously presented a 3D finite element method for calculating strain energy release rate and stiffness reduction in transversely cracked cross-poly hybrid laminates. The procedure is based on the computation of strain energy in the laminates with simulated crack and their incremental extensions for applied strains. In the present paper 3D FE method is further extended to study the crack behavior in hybrid angle-ply laminates under constant applied strain. Variations of strain energy release rate and stiffness reduction with fiber orientation angle theta of outer GR/E layers for different GR/E-GL/E hybrid angle-ply laminates have been calculated. The effects of different geometrical parameters on the crack extension behavior in width direction have been studied. Variation of strain energy release rate and stiffness reduction in cracked hybrid angle-ply laminates depend not only on the fiber orientation angle theta of the outer GE/E layers but also on the material properties and number of cracks and uncracked layers in the laminate.