Composite materials fabricated using woven fabrics are characterized for fracture toughness. Crack propagation behavior in woven fabric composites is investigated with respect to the periodic pattern produced as a result of the weave structure. Additionally, experimental methods for determining fracture toughness are investigated for woven fabric composites and a numerical technique to detect crack onset is proposed. Fracture characterization methods for mode I, mode II, and mixed-mode are investigated. A case study encompassing DCB, ENF, and three MMB test configurations is presented for a typical marine-grade E-glass fiber reinforced composite with a toughened vinyl ester resin matrix. The aim of this article is to investigate the fracture behavior of a heavy woven fabric composite. The most important outcomes of this study are a numerical technique to detect crack initiation and a discussion of the fracture behavior of woven fabric composites.
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