Interfacial failures in a compressive shear strength test of glass/polymerlaminates

A computational method for interfacial failure modeling in composite materi al systems using cohesive elements is developed. This method is based on ph enomenological cohesive zone models implemented within an implicit finite e lement framework as cohesive elements. Dynamic 2D and 3D cohesive elements have been developed and are used to simulate a compressive shear strength ( CSS) test. The CSS test is employed in the polymer industry to measure poly mer/substrate adhesion. The computational framework is first verified again st existing analytical solutions for dynamic crack growth in double cantile ver beam specimens. The phenomenon of stable crack growth followed by unsta ble crack growth observed in the CSS experiment is simulated. Various crack growth behaviors, obtained for different sizes of the initial pre-flaw alo ng the interface, are studied. The phenomenon of dynamic crack "pop-in", co nsisting of dynamic crack growth followed by crack arrest and stable crack growth, is investigated. The influence of the cohesive zone model parameter s on crack "pop-in" as well as stability of crack growth are studied. A 3D dynamic simulation of a square plan form of CSS test is performed. The 3D a nalyses reveal the mixed-mode behavior in crack front growth along the inte rface and local "pop-through" of the crack front near the free edge of the CSS test specimen. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.