Computation of mode I Strain Energy Release Rate of symmetrical and asymmetrical sandwich structures using mixed finite element

Abstract

The use of composite materials is on the rise in different engineering fields. The main advantage of these materials for the aerospace industry being their low weight for excellent mechanical qualities. The analysis of failure modes, such as delamination, of these materials has received great attention from researchers. This paper proposes a method to evaluate the mode I Strain Energy Release Rate (SERR) of sandwich structures. This method associates a two-dimensional mixed finite element with virtual crack extension technique for the analysis of interfacial delamination of sandwich beams. The cases of a symmetrical Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) and a asymmetrical Double Cantilever Beam (UDCB) have been analyzed in this study.The comparison of the results obtained by this method with those found in the literature shows efficiency and good precision for the calculation of Strain Energy Release Rate (SERR).

Keywords

• numerical modelling
• cracking
• mixed finite element
• sandwich structures
• strain energy release rate