BOUNDARY-LAYERS IN WEDGES OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE STRIPS UNDER GENERALIZED PLANE DEFORMATION .2. COMPLETE NUMERICAL-SOLUTIONS

A procedure for finding complete numerical solutions for the elastic b oundary layer field in wedges of a laminated composite strip under the generic loadings of generalized plane deformation is discussed togeth er with numerical examples for free edge problems and delamination cra ck problems. The procedure yields the solution in terms of loading par ameters and is applicable to an arbitrary wedge angle and ply orientat ion and any type of loadings within the range of generalized plane def ormation. For the free edge problem, the so called free edge stress in tensity and the mode vector are defined and the free edge stress inten sity is found to be a single parameter governing the fracture or failu re behaviour near the free edge for a given pair of adjacent materials (plies). The effect of relative ply thickness upon the stress intensi ty and the energy release rate is also discussed for various types of loadings.