Deducing the R-curve for trans-laminar fracture from a virtual Over-height Compact Tension (OCT) test

Xiaodong Xu*, Michael R. Wisnom, Stephen R. Hallett

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)
205 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The R-curve for Mode I trans-laminar fracture energy in quasi-isotropic IM7/8552 carbon/epoxy laminates is here deduced numerically from a virtual Over-height Compact Tension (OCT) test. A High-fidelity Finite Element Method (Hi-FEM) using the explicit Finite Element (FE) software LS-Dyna was adopted. Cohesive interface elements and a Weibull fibre failure criterion were used to predict failure. The input parameters for the Hi-FEM were measured from independent characterisation tests. OCT specimens were tested to verify the Hi-FEM results with good agreement. The R-curve effect is postulated to be caused by the growth of the height of the Fracture Process Zone (FPZ) with crack length. Hi-FEM can be used to better understand Mode I trans-laminar fracture toughness tests and generate fracture properties such as damage heights and R-curves for future structural scale models.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)162-170
Number of pages9
JournalComposites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Volume118
Early online date31 Dec 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2019

Research Groups and Themes

  • Bristol Composites Institute ACCIS

Keywords

  • Laminates
  • Fracture
  • Fracture Toughness
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
  • R-curve

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