Influence of woven ply degradation on fatigue crack growth in thin notched composites under tensile loading

• Published in: International journal of fatigue Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 60 - 65
• Main Authors: Bizeul, M., Bouvet, C., Barrau, J.J., Cuenca, R.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crack initiation; Crack propagation; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fatigue; Fatigue (materials); Fatigue failure; Fracture mechanics; Fractures; Laminates; Linear elastic fracture mechanics; Mathematical analysis; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Mechanics; Metals. Metallurgy; Plies; Structural mechanics; Woven fabric composite; Fatigue; Linear elastic fracture mechanics; Woven fabric composite; Crack propagation; Fracture mechanics; Rupture; Mechanical properties; Composite material; Fatigue crack
• ISSN: 0142-1123; 1879-3452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2009.01.010

This paper deals with the fatigue of the through-the-thickness crack propagation in thin notched composite laminates made of two glass woven plies. It highlights the different crack growths between warp and weft directions of the woven ply. Experimental results show a decrease of the crack growth rate per cycle with the increase of the crack initiation time. Moreover, it has been shown that it is necessary to take into account the fatigue damage of the woven plies in term of loss of rigidity in the initiation phase. The fatigue crack growth rates are then quantified using Paris law type equations and linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM).