ANALYSIS OF INELASTICITY EFFECT DUE TO DAMAGE ON STRESS DISTRIBUTIONSIN COMPOSITE LAMINATES

A damage mechanics model characterizing damage behavior of composite m aterials proposed earlier by the authors is employed to analyze the da mage effects on stress field near the free edge in symmetrically lamin ated graphite/epoxy composites of finite dimensions under uniaxial ten sion. A quasi-three-dimensional finite element analysis is developed f or the present investigation. The results from the damaged and undamag ed stress distributions of [0/90-degrees]s, [90/0-degrees]s, and [+/-4 5-degrees]s laminates are compared and examined. The processes of init iation and development of damage zone in these composite laminates are also discussed.