The background to Part B of the Second World-Wide Failure Exercise: Evaluation of theories for predicting failure in polymer composite laminates under three-dimensional states of stress

Abstract

The Second World-Wide Failure Exercise was launched and organised by the authors to determine the accuracy of current theories for predicting failure in polymer composite laminates under three-dimensional states of stress. This paper provides an introduction to the second stage (‘Part B’) of Second World-Wide Failure Exercise within which the level of maturity and accuracy of the leading three-dimensional failure theories for composites are assessed against experimental data, their strengths and weaknesses are identified and conclusions are drawn. The Second World-Wide Failure Exercise builds upon the process and philosophy developed during the First World-Wide Failure Exercise with the clear aims of ensuring that the assessment is objective, transparent and an effective, accessible benchmark for use by the composites community.