Modeling of delamination fracture toughness of I and II mixed mode of a laminated composite asymmetric double cantilever beam

Abstract

In this research, delamination in an asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) has been studied. The ADCB specimen is one the most proper samples for testing and calculating the mixed mode I/II fracture. First, a semi-empirical relation for calculating the total strain energy release rate (SERR) and the values of mode I and II of this parameter has been extended. Moreover, the total SERR of a laminated composite is determined using the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). Furthermore, by the use of this method fracture toughness of ADCB specimen and its modes can be calculated by testing of a unidirectional DCB specimen. Therefore, testing of ADCB samples is not required. Also, for verifying results obtained by the semi-empirical relation of the total SERR, experimental, analytical and numerical methods are used. By modeling of the mentioned specimen in ABAQUS/Standard, values of mode I and II SERR are calculated. This method can be used for assessment of the semi-empirical relation. Finally, it was observed that results of the semi-empirical relation are in very good agreements with the experimental, analytical and numerical results. This method reduces the volume of calculations of numerical methods and costs of experimental tests significantly.

Keywords

• delamination
• fracture toughness
• virtual crack closure technique
• glass/epoxy composites
• mixed mode