Abstract
A new approach to the fracture mechanics analysis of unidirectional com posites has been formulated. First, using the shear-lag model, we obtained an approximate stress-analysis for composites containing cracks and longitudinal splits. From this new stress analysis, we derived expressions for the energy release rate due to both self-similar crack propagation and to longitudinal splitting. The new expressions are easy to use. Be cause material heterogeneity, material anisotropy, finite width effects, and various possible failure modes are all specifically taken into account, we suggest that these new expressions should replace conventional fracture mechanics for analyzing fracture data in unidirec tional composites. Experimental work has verified that the new expressions fit experimen tal data significantly better than conventional fracture mechanics expressions.
Published Version
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