TRANSVERSE CRACKING IN FIBER-REINFORCED BRITTLE-MATRIX, CROSS-PLY LAMINATES

The topic addressed in this paper is transverse cracking in the matrix of the 90-degrees lagers of a cross-ply laminate loaded in tension. S everal aspects of the problem are considered, including conditions for the onset of matrix cracking, the evolution of crack spacing, the com pliance of the cracked laminate, and the overall strain contributed by release of residual stress when matrix cracking occurs. The heart of the analysis is the plane strain problem for a doubly periodic array o f cracks in the 90-degrees layers. A fairly complete solution to this problem is presented based on finite element calculations. In addition , a useful, accurate closed form representation is also included. This solution permits the estimation of compliance change and strain due t o release of residual stress. It can also be used to predict the energ y release rate of cracks tunneling through the matrix. In turn, this e nergy release rate can be used to predict both the onset of matrix cra cking and the evolution of crack spacing in the 90-degrees layers as a function of applied stress. All these results are used to construct o verall stress-strain behavior of a laminate undergoing matrix cracking in the presence of initial residual stress.