Maximum Load at the Initiation of Delamination Growth in a Double Cantilever Beam Specimen

Abstract

The experimental evaluation of critical strain energy release rate, G IC , under opening mode (Mode I) of composites using a slender double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen has been studied. Fracture analysis has been carried out on DCB specimens made of glass/epoxy, carbon fibre/PEEK and carbon fibre/epoxy composites. The calculated critical load and the corresponding displacement for the measured crack size of DCB specimens using the determined fracture energy are found to be in good agreement with the published test results.