Elastic Damage Analysis of Interlaminar Stress Distributions in Symmetrical Composite Laminates with Edge Delamination Cracks

Abstract

This paper is intended to present a study of elastic-damaged behaviour of symmetrical composite laminates with edge delamination cracks subjected to uniformly applied uniaxial tensile load. The response of composite laminates is investigated by a quasi-three-dimensional finite element analysis including the damage characterization of constituent plies. Of principal concern are the effects of edge delamination cracks as well as the influence of damage on stress distributions in graphite/epoxy [0/90°]s, [90/0°]s and [±45°], laminates. The computed results between the behaviours of laminates with stiffness damage consideration and those of geometrically similar laminates without stiffness damage are compared and the significance of damage in stress analysis of fibre-reinforced composite materials is elucidated.

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