Computational Investigation of Square Embedded Delamination of a Composite Laminate using VCCT

Abstract

The fiber reinforced polymer laminates are widely implemented in aviation industry due to its advantages and applications other materials in terms of strength to weight ratio, dsign features and many more. The strength of the interface compared to longitudinal and lateral directions of the plies are comparatively less and give rise too poor transverse direction strength. Hence a failure mechanism called delamination will occur in case when tools are dropped or due to poor manufacturing which would give rise to interface delamination. In this paper, VCCT is employed at the interface between base and sub laminate to investigate for a square shape delamination geometry of 20mm buckling driven delamination growth. The computational prediction of delamination growth initiation is obtained by solving a T300/976 specimen for geometric non linearity using SC8R continuum shell elements of Abaqus CAE and by plotting the required energy release rate at the delamination geometry.