Analysis of stresses in cross-ply composite laminates containing distributed transverse cracks

Abstract

In general, the load-bearing capacity of laminated composites can remain significant despite the presence of damage in the constituent plies. The types of damage frequently encountered in laminated composites include delamination, matrix cracking, fibre breakage and fibre-matrix debonding. It is useful, for the purpose of damage tolerance analysis, to be able to predict and correlate the extent and severity of damage with changes in the mechanical properties of the composite laminate. This paper describes a series of finite element parametric studies performed for cross-ply laminates containing uniformly distributed transverse matrix cracks. Results of the analysis are used in a theory for damaged composite laminates to predict changes in laminate stiffness. © 1994.