Paper number 851

BRIDGED DELAMINATION CRACKS IN CURVED BEAMS AND MIXED-MODE BENDING SPECIMENS

Roberta Massaḅ¹ and Brian N. Cox²

1Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, University of Genova,
Via Montallegro 1, 16145, Genova, Italy
2Rockwell Science Center, 1049 Camino Dos Rios, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, U.S.A.

Summary

Theoretical approaches based on bridged-crack models and plate/beam theory have proved to be effective in the modeling of Mode I and Mode II delaminations in composite laminates reinforced through the thickness. This paper deals with some aspects of the modeling of Mixed Mode delaminations. Two typical mixed mode problems are considered: the curved beam in bending (C specimen) and the Mixed-Mode Bending specimen (MMB) reinforced through the thickness.

Keywords

delamination, mixed mode, stitching, energy release rate, crack bridging, beam theory.