Author(s)

S. Corradi, M. Marchetti & J. Kenny

Abstract

Bridging forces analysis in composite laminate tensile fracture by boundary element method S. Corradi", M. Marchetti" & J. Kenny* "Aerospace Department, University of Rome, Italy ABSTRACT Cohesive Crack Model (CCM) is presented to verify the best a-v curve for center-cracked composite laminate in tension. The behaviour of cohesive forces for the numerical analysis is assumed to follow four different stress-crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) paths: constant, linear and two piece-wise linear ones. Stiffness matrix calculation for BEM input differs from standard FEM procedure according to the absence of point loads, so that crack surface displacements has been related to corrispondig boundary element tractions. In two cases numerical results and experimental data fit approximately well; the crack opening displacement (COD) has been the comparing parameter. INTRODUCTION Fracture control of fiber composites requires accurate methods for predicting the strength of laminates with cu

Keywords