A special finite element method applied to off-axis tunnel cracking in laminates

Off-axis oriented tunnel cracking in a laminated structure is modeled using special 2D off-axis finite element formulation, thus replacing full 3D simulations with much less demanding simulations. The formulated as user the commercial code ABAQUS, and made available for reader. formulation used to predict steady-state energy release rate mode-mixity either one isolated crack or multiple interacting cracks central ply of [0/?/0/??]s layup. laminate loaded uni-axially bi-axially, analyses are presented glass carbon fiber composites arbitrary layup angles ?. model found give precise predictions when comparing detailed by model. It demonstrated that despite being method, rigorously provides solutions out-of-plane deflection strain. With speed-up more than four orders magnitudes, it possible perform new, detailed, very accurate studies dependency thickness well neighboring on cracking.