Efficient modeling of postbuckling delamination growth in composite laminates using plate elements

Abstract

Under compression, delaminated composite plates may undergo postbuckling that can lead to delamination growth. The use of three-dimensional finite elements for the calculation of the strain energy release rate at the delamination front is computationally expensive. The Mindlin plate finite element is used to perform the postbuckling analysis and to compute the strain energy release rate at the delamination front with the aid of the crack closure method. Comparison of the present strain energy release rate calculation with the existing three-dimensional result indicates that the present method is efficient and accurate. For stationary delamination cracks, the effects of stacking sequence and shape of delamination are examined. A procedure of determining delamination front location for a propagating delamination is presented. Delamination growth initiated from embedded and edge delaminations is investigated using this procedure.