ISSN: 0884-6804
Page Count: 8

Free-Edge Delamination: Laminate Width and Loading Conditions Effects
Chamis, CC
Senior aerospace scientist, NASA Lewis Research Center, OH

Murthy, PLN
Senior research associate, Cleveland State University, OH

Abstract

The width and loading conditions effects on free-edge stress fields in composite laminates are investigated by using a three-dimensional finite element analysis. The analysis includes a special free-edge region refinement or superelement with progressive substructuring (mesh refinement) and finite thickness interply layers. The different loading conditions include in-plane and out-of-plane bending, combined axial tension and in-plane shear, twisting, uniform temperature, and uniform moisture. Results obtained indicate that axial tension causes the smallest magnitude of interlaminar free edge stress compared to other loading conditions; laminates with practical dimensions may not delaminate because of free edge stresses alone since the magnitude of these stresses are found to be quite insignificant.

Keywords:
3-D finite elements, superelements, progressive substructuring, fiber composites, interply layers, 3-D stress fields, axial tension, in-plane shear, out-of-plane shear, out-of-plane bending, twisting, combined tension/shear, uniform temperature, uniform moisture

Paper ID: CTR10144J
DOI: 10.1520/CTR10144J
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