Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Finite Element Analysis of Delamination Behaviors of Composite Laminates under Hygrothermal Environment Using Virtual Crack Closure Technique

  • Technical Article---Peer-Reviewed
  • Published:
Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This research aims to study the delamination behaviors of T700/8911 composite laminates under hygrothermal environment. For two mixed-mode I/II delamination specimens: single-leg bending delamination and over-leg bending delamination, finite element analysis using virtual crack closure technique as a ABAQUS module is comparatively performed to study the delamination growth and load responses, in which different delamination growth criteria are used. Mechanical tests and analytical solutions for two kinds of specimens are used to get the delamination fracture toughness. Results show that hygrothermal environment decreases the load-bearing ability and delamination resistance to some extent. This work provides a new thread for studying the delamination mechanisms of composite laminates under hygrothermal environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E.F. Rybicki, M.F. Kanninen, A finite element calculation of stress intensity factors by a modified crack closure integral. Eng. Fract. Mech. 9(4), 931–938 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M.L. Benzeggagh, M. Kenane, Measurement of mixed-mode delamination fracture toughness of unidirectional glass/epoxy composites with mixed-mode bending apparatus. Compos. Sci. Technol. 56(4), 439–449 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. E.M. Wu, R.C. Reuter, Crack extension in fiberglass reinforced plastics. Crack extension in fiberglass reinforced plastics (vol. 275). Illinois Univ Urbana Dept of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (1965)

  4. J. Reeder, S. Kyongchan, P.B. Chunchu, D.R. Ambur, Postbuckling and growth of delamination in composite plates subjected to axial compression, in 43rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference. Denver, Colorado (2002)

  5. E.G. Wolff, Moisture effects on polymer matrix composites. SAMPE J. 29(3), 11–19 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  6. M.L. Costa, Strength of hygrothermally conditioned polymer composites with voids. J. Compos. Mater. 39(21), 1943–1961 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. J.M. Zhou, J.P. Lucas, Hygrothermal effects of epoxy resin. Part I: the nature of water in epoxy. Polymer 40(20), 5505–5512 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. G.M. Cândido, M.L. Costa, M.C. Rezende, S.F.M. Almeida, Hygrothermal effects on quasi-isotropic carbon epoxy laminates with machined and molded edges. Compos. B Eng. 39(3), 490–496 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. S.K. Singh, A. Chakrabrti, Hygrothermal analysis of laminated composites using a C0FE model based on RHSDT. Inter. J. Earth Sci. Eng. 4(6), 604–607 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  10. A. Ghosh, Hygrothermal effects on the initiation and propagation of damage in composite shells. Aircr. Eng. Aeros. Technol. 80(4), 386–399 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R. Sullivan, A thermodynamic model for hygrothermal behavior in polymer composites, in 35th Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference (1993)

  12. A. Bahrami, A. Nosier, Interlaminar hygrothermal stresses in laminated plates. Inter. J. Solids Struct. 44(25), 8119–8142 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. B.C. Ray, Temperature effect during humid ageing on interfaces of glass and carbon fibers reinforced epoxy composites. J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 298(1), 111–117 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. L.R. Bao, A.F. Yee, Moisture diffusion and hygrothermal aging in bismaleimide matrix carbon fiber composites-part I: uni-weave composites. Compos. Sci. Technol. 62(16), 2099–2110 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. P.F. Liu, Z.P. Gu, Finite element analysis of single-leg bending delamination of composite laminates using a nonlinear cohesive model. J. Fail. Anal. Prev. 15(6), 1–7 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. P.F. Liu, J. Yang, B. Wang, Z.F. Zhou, J.Y. Zheng, A study on the intralaminar damage and interlaminar delamination of carbon fiber composite laminates under three-point bending using acoustic emission. J. Fail. Anal. Prev. 15(1), 101–121 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. S.H. Yoonn, C.S. Hong, Modified end notched flexure specimen for mixed mode interlaminar fracture in laminated composites. Inter. J. Fract. 43(1), 3–9 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. B.D. Davidson, V. Sundararaman, A single leg bending test for interfacial fracture toughness determination. Inter. J. Fract. 78(2), 193–210 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Szekrenyes, J. Uj, Over-leg bending test for mixed-mode I/II interlaminar fracture in composite laminates. Inter. J. Damage Mech. 16(1), 5–33 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Prof. Pengfei Liu would sincerely like to thank the National Key Fundamental Research and Development Project of China (No. 2015CB057603) and the National Natural Science Funding of China (No. 51875512).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemical Machinery and Process Equipment, School of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    J. G. Li & J. K. Chu

  2. Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316021, China

    P. F. Liu

Authors
  1. J. G. Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. F. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. K. Chu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. F. Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, J.G., Liu, P.F. & Chu, J.K. Finite Element Analysis of Delamination Behaviors of Composite Laminates under Hygrothermal Environment Using Virtual Crack Closure Technique. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 19, 147–153 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-019-00582-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-019-00582-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation