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Determination of the Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Toughness by Using a Nonlinear Double-Cantilever Beam Specimen

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Mechanics of Composite Materials Aims and scope

The aim of this study is estimation of the effect of large deflections of a double-cantilever beam (DCB) on the accuracy of determination of the mode I interlaminar fracture toughness GIc of layered composites by using the nonlinear theory of bending of beams. The differential equation of the deflection curve of arm of the DCB specimen in the natural form was used to analyze the strain energy of the specimen and its strain energy release rate GI upon propagation of delamination under the action of cleavage forces at the ends of cantilevers. An algorithm for calculating the strain energy and its release rate in the DCB specimens is realized in the form of a MATLAB code. An experimental study was carried out on DCB specimens of a highly flexible carbon/epoxy laminate. The validity of the nonlinear model developed is demonstrated. The standard methods used to determine GIc are refined for the case of highly flexible specimens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Aeronautics, Riga Technical University, Riga, LV-1019, Latvia

    V. Pavelko, K. Lapsa & P. Pavlovskis

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  1. V. Pavelko
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  2. K. Lapsa
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  3. P. Pavlovskis
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Correspondence to V. Pavelko.

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Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 491-`506 , May-June, 2016.

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Pavelko, V., Lapsa, K. & Pavlovskis, P. Determination of the Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Toughness by Using a Nonlinear Double-Cantilever Beam Specimen. Mech Compos Mater 52, 347–358 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-016-9587-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-016-9587-y

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