A review of how fracture mechanics can be applied to the various fracture modes observed in composites is given. It is shown that rather conventional methods may be used for short-fibre composites but that oriented laminates undergo delamination, often parallel to the applied loads, and energy release rate methods must be used to analyse these failures. The importance of delamination toughness in determining composite behaviour is emphasized and details of the various test methods and analysis techniques are given. Finally, some discussion of the more complex failures seen in cross-ply laminates is presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WilliamsJ. G.Fracture mechanics of polymers, 1987 (Ellis Horwood/John Wiley).
2.
KinlochA. J.Adhesion and adhesives, 1987 (Chapman and Hall).
3.
BreidenbackR. F.LakeG. J.Application of fracture mechanics to rubber articles, including tyres. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., 1981, A299, 189–202.
4.
LawnB. R.WilshawT. R.Fracture of brittle solids, 1975 (Cambridge University Press).
5.
ASTM Standard E 399–81 Plane strain fracture toughness of metallic materials, ASTM, 1981.
6.
GriffithA. A.The phenomena of rupture and flow in solids. Phil. Trans. R. Soc., 1921, A221, 163–198.
7.
FriedrichK.Application of fracture mechanics to composites materials, Vol. 6 of Composites Materials Series, (SeriesPipesR. B.), 1989 (Elsevier).
8.
WilliamsJ. G.On the calculation of energy release rates for cracked laminates. Int. J. Fract., 1988, 36, 101–119.
9.
HashemiS.KinlochA. J.WilliamsJ. G.The analysis of interlaminar fracture in uniaxial fibre-polymer composite laminates. Proc. R. Soc. Lond., 1990, A427, 173–199.
10.
HashemiS.KinlochA. J.WilliamsJ. G.Mixed mode fracture in fibre-polymer composite laminates. Proceedings of ASTM of meeting Orlando, Florida, November 1989 (to be published).
11.
ReederJ. R.CrewsJ. H.Mixed-mode bending test. Proceedings of ASTM meeting, Orlando, Florida, November 1989 (to be published).
