PREDICTION OF THE LOCATION OF DELAMINATION IN THE DRILLING OF COMPOSITE LAMINATES

An analytical approach for the determination of the position of the on set of delamination during the drilling of composite laminates based o n linear elastic fracture mechanics is presented in this paper. The cr itical thrust force calculated from the predicted position of the onse t of delamination has a reasonable agreement with experimental results obtained in the drilling of T300/5208 graphite epoxy composite lamina tes reported in the literature. Thus, the analytical method developed in the present study may be applied to the drilling of composite lamin ates drilling with the avoidance of delamination. (C) 1997 Published b y Elsevier Science S.A.