Paper number 272

DELAMINATION OF TAPERED COMPOSITE LAMINATES SUBJECTED TO MECHANICAL AND HYGROTHERMAL LOADINGS

Kyohei Kondo and Hideaki Sanada

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Summary

Tapered laminate is susceptible to delamination due to the singular interlaminar stresses at the end of the terminating ply. The onset and growth of the delamination can be characterized by the potential energy release rate based on the fracture mechanics. The potential energy release rate associated with the delamination growth into the thick section of the tapered laminate under mechanical and hygrothermal loadings are analyzed by the superposition method. Transforming the original tapered section problem with mechanical and hygrothermal loadings to that with mechanical tractions applied on the end surface of the terminating dropped ply, we can clarifiy the effect of the hygrothermal loading on the energy release rate as well as that of mechanical loading.

Keywords

tapered laminate, ply drop, delamination, energy release rate, mechanical loading, hygrothermal loading, superposition method, fracture mechanics.