Fatigue life prediction of z-fibre pinned composite laminate under mode I loading. (12th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Suchao; Lemanski, Stuart; Zhang, Xiang; Ayre, David
• Is Part Of: Composites science and technology. Volume 174(2019)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2019-04-12
• Subjects: Carbon fibre composites -- Through-thickness reinforcement -- z-fibre -- Fatigue life prediction -- Finite element analysis; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Fibrous composites; Periodicals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2019.02.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-3538

Abstract

Abstract: A hybrid method is presented combining linear elastic fracture mechanics with nonlinear damage mechanics that can predict the fatigue crack growth rate in z-fibre pinned composites under mode I loading. The strain energy release rate is evaluated using the virtual crack closure technique via finite element analysis. Cohesive elements are used in the pinned region to represent the crack bridging force generated by the pins. The reduction of the pins' bridging force under the fatigue loading is accommodated by applying a degradation law, based on damage mechanics with empirical fitting parameters. A modified degradation law is proposed which is capable of accumulating fatigue damage under varying crack opening displacement ranges experienced by the pins during fatigue loading. Fatigue testing was performed with a z-pinned double cantilever beam at two different values of applied displacement amplitude. The predictions show reasonably good agreement with the test results in terms of the fatigue crack propagation rate and fatigue life.