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Off-axis Fatigue Crack Growth and the Associated Energy Release Rate in Composite Laminates

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Abstract

Stable matrix crack growth behaviour under mechanical fatigue loading hasbeen studied in a quasi-isotropic (0/90/-45/+45)s GFRPlaminate. Detailed experimental observations were made on the accumulationof cracks and on the growth of individual cracks in +45° as well as 90° plies. A generalised plain strain finiteelement model of the damaged laminate has been constructed. This model hasbeen used to relate the energy release rate of growing cracks to the crackgrowth rate via a Paris relation.

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Tong, J., Guild, F.J., Ogin, S.L. et al. Off-axis Fatigue Crack Growth and the Associated Energy Release Rate in Composite Laminates. Applied Composite Materials 4, 349–359 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008877901436

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008877901436

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