Mechanical Performance and Delamination Behaviour of Laminated Composites under Mixed Mode Loading Conditions

Abstract

The aim of this work is to investigate the mechanical response and delamination behaviour of laminated composites under mixed mode loading conditions by using finite element models based on cohesive zone method. Three different mixed mode loading scenarios including single leg bending, modified single leg bending and mixed mode bending in combination with five different displacement ratios are employed. Moreover, the ply level modelling based on shell element connected with finite thickness cohesive zone element is implemented since it is proven to be efficient. The results show that all configurations can accurately predict mixed mode behaviour in laminated composites and for single leg bending configuration, the numerical results provide close agreement with the analytical results. It is also found that the shear mode is dominated for mixed mode bending configurations. Consequently, the delamination evolution is increased which leads to high delamination area. While, at displacement ratios of 2 and 2.5 in modified single leg bending configuration can restrain the delamination propagation rate.