Non-linear study of delamination cracks in multilayered beams

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to deal with an analytical investigation of delamination fracture in the mixed-mode bending (MMB) multilayer beam configurations taking into account the material non-linearity. Design/methodology/approach The J-integral approach was applied in fracture analysis. The beam layers non-linear mechanical response was described by using a power-law stress-strain relation with four material constants. Analytical solutions of the J-integral were derived by using the technical beam theory. The fracture analysis developed is valid for MMB beams whose layers may have different thicknesses. Also, the values of material constants in the non-linear stress-strain equation may be different for each layer. Findings The effect of material constants, crack location and layer thicknesses on the non-linear fracture was evaluated. The analytical solutions obtained are very suitable for parametric studies of non-linear fracture behaviour. The approach developed here can be used for optimization of multilayered beam structures with respect to the delamination fracture performance. The present study can also be useful for the understanding of fracture in multilayered beams exhibiting material non-linearity. Originality/value For the first time, an analytical study was performed of the delamination fracture behaviour of the MMB multilayered beam configuration taking into account the material non-linearity.