Computational Prediction of Load Carrying Capacity of Notched CFRP Laminates.

Abstract

Computational prediction of load carrying capacity of notched [90/+45/-45/0] ns CFRP laminates is made to verify the method proposed previously by the authors. In the damage developed ahead of the notch tip of laminates, load is supported by the delaminated laminas which can be regarded as bridging fiber bundles. In the method, the damage is simplified to a fictitions crack on which fiber bundle bridging occurs, and the relationship between cohesive stress acting on the fictitious crack surface and crack opening displacement is statistically determined. It is computationally estimated that the load carrying capacity of the laminates tends to decrease with the decrease in the pull-out length of the fiber bundle. The tendency coincides with that obtained in the experiment Furthermore, the load carrying capacity is quantitatively predicted for various values of fiber volume fraction and critical stress which governs the delamination.