A FINITE-ELEMENT MODEL FOR DELAMINATION PROPAGATION IN COMPOSITES

In this paper the theory and application of a modelling technique for three-dimensional planar delamination growth in laminated composites h as been presented. The method is based on linear elastic fracture mech anics assumptions for delamination cracks and uses a strain energy rel ease rate criterion. For a given component, strain energy release rate is considered to be a non-linear function of the location of the dela mination front. Hence, satisfaction of the growth criterion reduces to the solution of a non-linear system of equations. A generalized secan t method, by the Broyden's update method, is used to solve the system of non-linear equations. Several examples of the application of the te chnique are presented. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd