MODELING OF TRANSVERSE CRACK-GROWTH AND SATURATION IN CROSS-PLY LAMINATES

A model of transverse cracking in cross-ply laminates is presented. The model describes the onset of cracking, the development of the number of cracks, the saturation phase of this damage mode and the final crack distribution, as well as the dependency of these phenomena on the 90-degrees ply thickness. This analysis is based on an effective flaw size distribution and a non-linear interlaminar behaviour hypothesis. The theoretical prediction of the process and the saturation of cracking was well correlated with the experiments conducted on [O2/90n]s graphite/epoxy. However, there was considerable dispersion in the experimental results concerning the onset of cracking. Experimental work and part of the theoretical investigations were made at ONERA, 29 av. Division, Leclerc 92322, Chatillan, Cedex, France.