Analysis of crack propagation in double cantilever beam tests of multidirectional laminates 

 -  Mechanics of Materials, 35(7), p.641-652, 2003 .
<br/><br/> This paper presents numerical analyses of crack propagation in double cantilever beam (DCB)tests of multidirectional laminates. Three-dimensional finite element models were used for application of the virtual crack closure technique and for simulation of crack growth with a progressive damage model. The analyses were concerned with three features that may affect the measurements of the mode I critical strain energy release rate GIc: residual stresses, modemixity and curved delamination fronts. The results showed that the effects of those features could be minimised by a proper selection of specimen stacking sequences. The suitability of other DCB specimens proposed in the literature to avoid intralaminar damage and crack jumping was also evaluated. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>LAMINATES<br/>DELAMINATION<br/>FRACTURE TOUGHNESS<br/>FINITE ELEMENT MODELS<br/>VIRTUAL CRACK CLOSURE TECHNIQUE<br/>CRACK GROWTH SIMULATION