Delamination Characteristics around Hole in Laminates with Softening Strip

Abstract

Graphite/epoxy laminates with and without a softening strip around a hole were investigated. The softening strip is a portion of the graphite critical ply, which is replaced by a glass/epoxy composite. Analysis was conducted with finite element methods: The in‐plane stress distribution was found using a planform two‐dimensional model and interlaminar stress distributions around a hole were obtained from a through‐thickness quasi‐three‐dimensional model. The variation of strain‐energy release rate for a delamination occurring at the critical interface was investigated. The finite element results indicate that the inplane and interlaminar stress distributions, as well as the strain‐energy release rates, are significantly reduced for laminates with a softening strip.