Transverse cracking and delamination in cross-ply gr/ep composites under dry, saturated and immersed fatigue

摘要

Motivated by experimental observations, the finite element method is employed to model the competition between the transverse cracking and delamination modes of failure that occur in cross-ply AS4/3501-6 gr/ep coupons subjected to fatigue. The results explain the extensive delaminations and reduced crack densities that arise under immersed fatigue, as compared with fatigue in air. [References: 15]