• De Carvalho, N. V.
• Pernice, M. F.
• Carvalho, Nelson V. De
• Ratcliffe, James G.
• Hallett, Stephen R.
• Ratcliffe, J. G.

Abstract

The transition of delamination growth between different ply interfaces in composite tape laminates, known as migration, was investigated experimentally. The test method used promotes delamination growth initially along a 0/0 ply interface, which eventually migrates to a neighbouring 0/0 ply interface. Specimens with 0=60° and 75° were tested. Migration occurs in two main stages: (1) the initial 0/0 interface delamination turns, transforming into intraply cracks that grow through the 0 plies; this process occurs at multiple locations across the width of a specimen, (2) one or more of these cracks growing through the 0 plies reaches and turns into the 0/0 ply interface, where it continues to grow as a delamination. A correlation was established between these experimental observations and the shear stress sign at the delamination front, obtained by finite element analyses.<br/><br/>Overall, the experiments provide insight into the key mechanisms that govern delamination growth and migration.

Topics

• experiment
• crack
• composite