Fracture Behavior of Multidirectional DCB Specimen: Higher-Order Beam Theories

• Published in: Journal of engineering mechanics Vol. 135; no. 10; pp. 1119 - 1128
• Main Authors: Raghu Prasad, B. K, Pavan Kumar, D. V. T. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01-10-2009
• Subjects: Cantilever beams; Composite structures; Cracking; Delaminating; Displacement; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Matching; Mathematical models; Physics; Plane strain; Plane stress; Shear deformation; Solid mechanics; Static elasticity (thermoelasticity...); Strain energy release rate; Stress analysis; Structural and continuum mechanics; TECHNICAL PAPERS; Theories; Toughness; Stress analysis; Energy release; Strain energy; Biaxial stress; Unidirectional fiber material; Rupture; Cracking; Modeling; Composite material; Fracture toughness; Toughness; Precracked specimen; Theories; Plane strain; Delaminating; Shear deformation; Crack tip; Non linear effect; Composite structures; Delamination; Double cantilever beam; Crack; Strain rate
• ISSN: 0733-9399; 1943-7889
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2009)135:10(1119)

Mathematical models, for the stress analysis of symmetric multidirectional double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen using classical beam theory, first and higher-order shear deformation beam theories, have been developed to determine the Mode I strain energy release rate (SERR) for symmetric multidirectional composites. The SERR has been calculated using the compliance approach. In the present study, both variationally and nonvariationally derived matching conditions have been applied at the crack tip of DCB specimen. For the unidirectional and cross-ply composite DCB specimens, beam models under both plane stress and plane strain conditions in the width direction are applicable with good performance where as for the multidirectional composite DCB specimen, only the beam model under plane strain condition in the width direction appears to be applicable with moderate performance. Among the shear deformation beam theories considered, the performance of higher-order shear deformation beam theory, having quadratic variation for transverse displacement over the thickness, is superior in determining the SERR for multidirectional DCB specimen.