A new equation was developed for the crack-tip separation in the double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen, which has been standardised for mode I delamination of composites. The very simple closed-form equation is based on a pseudo-elastic beam model and on the effective crack concept. Moreover, it only requires the common load–displacement data up to crack initiation and easy to obtain elastic moduli. Strain-energy release rate versus crack-tip separation curves can then be differentiated for obtaining the tractions, as in the classical direct method. Numerical results for piecewise linear traction-separation laws (TSL) showed good accuracy of strain-energy release rate versus crack-tip separation curves predicted. Application to two carbon/epoxy materials gave very promising TSL results, including cohesive strengths similar to transverse tensile strengths and post-peak steep traction decreases.