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An analytical prediction of matrix cracking in fibrous composite laminates

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6169894
An analytical procedure based on the principal of minimum potential energy is developed for predicting the effect of matrix cracking on the monotonic and cyclic res onses of fibrous composite laminates. The following items, which the composite material society has focused considerable research efforts on, are modeled: (1) the degraded stiffness tensor for an off-axis angle-ply in a laminate subjected to in-plane monotonic loadings and constant temperature change as an explicit function of the average matrix crack density and the undamaged ply properties; (2) the monotonic matrix cracking evolution criterion to correlate the applied average axial stress, thermal residual stresses due to curing, and the average matrix crack density in cross-ply laminates; and (3) a hypothetical form of the cyclic matrix cracking evolution criterion for cross-ply laminates for predicting matrix cracking due to tension-tension fatigue loading. In addition to the above topics, a relationship between the strain-like internal state variable and the damage potential is provided. A number of experimental and theoretical studies are compared with the present research for demonstrating the practical applicability of the present study. as an engineering tool.
Research Organization:
Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
OSTI ID:
6169894
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English