SEDL / STP / STP1128-EB / STP14577S

Influence of the Stacking Sequence on Fatigue Transverse Ply Cracking in Cross-Ply Laminates

Henaff-Gardin, C
Lecturer, professor, professor, and Ph.D. student, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Physique des Matériaux, URA 863, Ecole Nationale Supéricure de Mécanique et d'Aérotechnique, Poitiers,

Lafarie-Frenot, M-C
Lecturer, professor, professor, and Ph.D. student, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Physique des Matériaux, URA 863, Ecole Nationale Supéricure de Mécanique et d'Aérotechnique, Poitiers,

Brillaud, J
Lecturer, professor, professor, and Ph.D. student, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Physique des Matériaux, URA 863, Ecole Nationale Supéricure de Mécanique et d'Aérotechnique, Poitiers,

El Mahi, A
Lecturer, professor, professor, and Ph.D. student, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Physique des Matériaux, URA 863, Ecole Nationale Supéricure de Mécanique et d'Aérotechnique, Poitiers,

Pages: 20    Published: Jan 1992

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Abstract

Matrix-cracking mechanisms have been investigated for carbon/epoxy cross-ply laminates. Tension-tension fatigue tests were conducted on two equivalent layups whose only difference consists in the stacking sequence and in the resulting 90° ply thickness. The initiation and development of transverse cracks are characterized. The 90° ply thickness and the loading amplitude appeared to have a strong influence on crack distributions in the specimen and on the propagation rates. A comparison between finite element method (FEM) and analytical results has led us to develop a shear lag analysis in order to estimate the strain energy release rate associated with 90° ply crack formation and growth. Moreover, a fatigue-cracked surface propagation law has been obtained that appears to be independent of the stacking sequence.