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Chapter Four

PERFORMANCE

Delamination
Interlaminar stress in composite structures usually results from the mismatch of engineering
properties between plies. These stresses are the underlying cause of delamination initiation and
propagation. Delamination is defined as the cracking of the matrix between plies. The
aforementioned stresses are out-of-plane and occur at structural discontinuities, as shown in
Figure 4-8. In cases where the primary loading is in-plane, stress gradients can produce an
out-of-plane load scenario because the local structure may be discontinuous.

Figure 4-8 Sources of Out-of-Plane Loads from Load Path Discontinuities [ASM, Engineered Materials Handbook]

Analysis of the delamination problem has


identified the strain energy release rate, G, as a
key parameter for characterizing failures. This
quantity is independent of lay-up sequence or
delamination source. [4-25] NASA and Army
investigators have shown from finite element
analysis that once a delamination is modeled a few
ply thicknesses from an edge, G reaches a plateau
given by the equation shown in Figure 4-9.
where:
t = laminate thickness
= remote strain
Figure 4-9 S t ra in E n e rg y R elease Rate for Delamination Growth
[OBrien, Delamination Durability of
Composite Materials for Rotorcraft]

ELAM = modulus before


delamination
E* = modulus after
delamination

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Marine Composites

Delamination

Figure 4-10 Basic Modes of Loading Involving Different Crack Surface Displacements
[ASM, Engineered Materials Handbook]

Linear elastic fracture mechanics identifies three distinct loading modes that correspond to
different crack surface displacements. Figure 4-10 depicts these different modes as follows:

Mode I - Opening or tensile loading, where the crack surfaces move directly
apart;

Mode II - Sliding or in-plane shear, where the crack surfaces slide over each
other in a direction perpendicular to the leading edge of the crack; and

Mode III - Tearing or antiplane shear, where the crack surfaces move
relative to each other and parallel to the leading edge of the crack
(scissoring).

Mode I is the dominant form of loading in cracked metallic structures. With composites, any
combination of modes may be encountered. Analysis of mode contribution to total strain
energy release rate has been done using finite element techniques, but this method is too
cumbersome for checking individual designs. A simplified technique has been developed by
Georgia Tech for NASA/Army whereby Mode II and III strain energy release rates are
calculated by higher order plate theory and then subtracted from the total G to determine Mode
I contribution.
Delamination in tapered laminates is of particular interest because the designer usually has
control over taper angles. Figure 4-11 shows delamination initiating in the region A where
the first transition from thin to thick laminate occurs. This region is modeled as a flat laminate
with a stiffness discontinuity in the outer belt plies and a continuous stiffness in the inner
core plies. The belt stiffness in the tapered region E2 was obtained from a tensor
transformation of the thin region E1 transformed through the taper angle beta. As seen in the
figure's equation, G will increase as beta increases, because the belt stiffness is a function of
the taper angle. [4-25]

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Chapter Four

PERFORMANCE

Figure 4-11 Strain Energy Release Rate Analysis of Delamination in a Tapered Laminate [OBrien, Delamination Durability of Composite Materials for Rotorcraft]

Lately, there has been much interest in


the aerospace industry in the
development of tough resin systems
that resist impact damage.
The
traditional,
high-strength
epoxy
systems are typically characterized as
brittle when compared to systems used
in the marine industry. In a recent test
of aerospace matrices, little difference
in delamination durability showed up.
However, the tough matrix composites
did show slower delamination growth.
Figure 4-12 is a schematic of a log-log
plot of delamination growth rate, da dN ,
where:
Gc = cyclic strain
energy release
rate
Gth = cyclic threshold

Figure 4-12 Comparison of Delamination


Growth Rates for Composites with Brittle and
Tough Matrices [OBrien, Delamination Durability of Composite Materials for Rotorcraft]

193

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