FATIGUE-CRACK GROWTH IN FIBER METAL LAMINATES

The fatigue behavior of cracked fiber-metal laminates containing resid ual stresses is studied. A finite element model employing special inte rface elements is developed for this study. The use of the interface e lement allows the simulation to be completed in a single finite elemen t analysis conducted within the limitations of elasticity theory. The effect of crack closure at the crack tip in the aluminum layer is incl uded in the model. Numerical examples are presented for unstretched an d stretched ARALL-1 laminates. The results obtained from the finite el ement model are compared with experimental results. Good agreement bet ween these results supports the validity of the present model.