Title: Simulation of crack paths at three-dimensional corners of laminated structures

Authors: Henrik Myhre Jensen; Badrinath Veluri

Addresses: Aarhus School of Engineering, Aarhus University, Dalgas Avenue 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark ' Grundfos A/S, Poul Due Jensens Vej 7, DK-8850 Bjerringbro, Denmark

Abstract: A fracture mechanics-based approach focused on modelling the shape of such interface cracks and calculating the critical stress for steady-state propagation has been developed. The crack propagation is investigated by estimating the fracture mechanics parameters including the energy release rate and the three-dimensional mode-mixity along the crack front allowing determining the shape of the crack front profiles. A numerical approach is applied for coupling the far field solutions utilising the capability of the finite element method to the near field solutions at the crack front based on the J-integral. The developed two-dimensional numerical approach for the calculation of fracture mechanical properties has been validated with three-dimensional models for varying crack front shapes. A quantitative approach was formulated based on the finite element method with iterative adjustment of the crack front to estimate the critical delamination stress as a function of the fracture criterion and corner angles. The implication of the results on the delamination is discussed in terms of crack front profiles and the critical stresses.

Keywords: interface fracture; laminates; corner cracks; delamination; mode mixity; simulation; crack paths; laminated structures; fracture mechanics; modelling; interface cracks; crack propagation; critical stress; steady-state propagation; energy release rate; finite element method; FEM; crack front profiles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2014.060325

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2014 Vol.5 No.2, pp.112 - 121

Received: 25 Mar 2013
Accepted: 31 Aug 2013

Published online: 17 May 2014 *

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