Numerical analysis of the influence of a nearby fibre on the interface crack growth in composites under transverse tensile load

• Published in: Engineering fracture mechanics Vol. 168; pp. 58 - 75
• Main Authors: Sandino, C., Correa, E., París, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2016; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Composite materials; Composites; Crack initiation; Crack propagation; Engineering; Fracture mechanics; Interfacial cracks; Interfacial Fracture Mechanics; Load; Matrix/inter-fibre failure; Micromechanics; Numerical analysis; Tensile stress; Two-fibre model; Micromechanics; Matrix/inter-fibre failure; Composites; Interfacial Fracture Mechanics; Two-fibre model
• ISSN: 0013-7944; 1873-7315
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2016.01.022

•The inter-fibre failure in composite materials under uniaxial tension is studied.•The interface crack growth is numerally analysed by means of a BEM model.•Model consisting of a damaged primary fibre and an undamaged secondary fibre.•The influence of the secondary fibre moving position on the crack is investigated.•Failure is promoted when the load and the fibres are aligned.
In this paper the interface crack growth associated with the inter-fibre failure under tension is studied by means of a two-fibre BEM model. The influence of the presence of an undamaged secondary fibre on the evolution of the interface crack at a primary one is analysed using Interfacial Fracture Mechanics concepts. The results obtained show that when the secondary fibre is aligned with the direction of the external load, its presence has an accelerative effect on the initiation of interface crack growth, whereas it has a protective effect for the rest of the positions considered.