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Simulation of 90° ply fatigue crack growth along the width of cross-ply carbon-epoxy coupons

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Abstract

We study the mechanism of fatigue cracking of the matrix of cross-ply carbon-epoxy laminates. Primary attention is given to the study of the influence of the specimen width on the evolution of damage. On the basis of shear lag analysis, we determine the strain energy release rate in the processes of initiation and growth of transverse fatigue cracks. We also present results of experimental research on the evolution of the edge crack density per ply, the average length of the cracks, and the crack propagation rate under transverse fatigue cracking. It is shown that these characteristics are independent of the specimen width. At the same time, as soon as the edge crack density reaches its saturation value, the average crack growth rate becomes constant. All the experimental results are in good agreement with results obtained by using the theoretical model.

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Authors
  1. C. Henaff-Gardin
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  2. E. Urwald
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  3. M. C. Lafarie-Frenot
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Additional information

Laboratoire de Mecanique et de Physique des Materiaux ENSMA, Poitiers Cedex, France. Published in Fiziko-Khimicheskaya Mekhanika Materialov, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 109–112, January–February, 1994.

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Henaff-Gardin, C., Urwald, E. & Lafarie-Frenot, M.C. Simulation of 90° ply fatigue crack growth along the width of cross-ply carbon-epoxy coupons. Mater Sci 30, 110–114 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00559025

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00559025

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