A Mixed-Mode Fracture Criterion for Composite Materials

Abstract

The failure of composite laminates is invariably preceded by the cracking of matrix and interface, which appears as the cracking of unidirectional plies along the fibers and as delamination between plies. Since the ply cracking and delamination appear as macroscopically self-similar crack extension at least within each ply, they are amenable to the linear elastic fracture analysis.