Application of the finite element method to prediction of onset of delamination growth

Abstract

The present article is concerned with the application of the finite element method to the analysis of the onset of delamination growth in composites by means of the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). The article reviews first the application of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) to the analysis of delamination, as well as the reasons why the VCC technique is the standard method of combining LEFM and the finite element method to predict onset of delamination growth. The article also reviews the different solutions proposed in the literature to deal with the oscillatory singularity associated with a crack between two dissimilar materials (as is the case for a delamination) and the practical details of the VCCT application in a general 3D analysis. Finally, the results of a numerical study of the mixed mode bending (MMB) interlaminar fracture test are shown. The study applies the concepts reviewed along the rest of this article and presents some practical recommendations for the analysis of a delamination front using finite elements. This review article includes 77 references.