Abstract
Abstract Resin dominated damage modes such as matrix cracking in the off-axis plies and matrix crack-induced local and edge delaminations are common failure mechanisms in composite laminates under tensile or thermal fatigue. Accurate prediction of the laminate stiffness and strength must consider all the above-mentioned damage modes. In the present paper, an approach is developed for the analysis of cross-ply laminates damaged by transverse and longitudinal cracks and transverse and longitudinal delaminations that initiate and grow along these cracks. It is based on the Equivalent Constraint Model (ECM) of the damaged ply and employs an improved 2-D shear lag method to determine the stress field in the cracked and locally delaminated ply. The method is applied to predict residual stiffness properties of cross-ply graphite/epoxy laminates using experimentally observed damage patterns.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
