A finite-element-based toolset has been developed to simulate arbitrary evolution of 3-D, geometrically explicit, interlaminar delaminations in composite structures. A new energy-based growth formulation uses the virtual crack extension (VCE) method to predict point-by-point growth along the delamination front. The VCE method offers an accurate and computationally efficient means to extract bot...

Dead cells in most epithelia are eliminated by cell extrusion. Here, we explore whether cell delamination in the amnioserosa, a seemingly stochastic event that results in the extrusion of a small fraction of cells and known to provide a force for dorsal closure, is contingent upon the receipt of an apoptotic signal. Through the analysis of mutant combinations and the profiling of apoptotic sign...

Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) offers a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique that takes advantage of the inherent electrical properties in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites for internal damage characterization. This paper investigates a method of optimum selection of sensing configurations for delamination detection in thick cross-ply laminates using ERT. Reduction...

In this paper, the data reduction equations for common delamination toughness tests are rederived for use with specimens which have bonded doublers. The common toughness tests considered here are the double cantilever beam (DCB) for mode I toughness; the end notch flexure (3ENF) and 4 point ENF (4ENF) for mode II toughness; and the mixed mode bending (MMB) test for testing under combined mode I...

A three-dimensional spectral element method SEM was developed for analysis of Lamb wave propagation in composite laminates containing a delamination. SEM is more efficient in simulating wave propagation in structures than conventional finite element method FEM because of its unique diagonal form of the mass matrix. Three types of composite laminates, namely, unidirectional-ply laminates, cross-...

Layered composites subject to impacts can fail by delamination, i.e. by debonding between laminae, if the stress waves cause damaging phenomena to take place mainly within the resin-enriched interlaminar phases. To simulate delamination at the structural level, processes dissipating energy are lumped onto fictitious zero-thickness interlaminar surfaces, and softening interface constitutive laws...

The distinguishing characteristics of carbon fibre reinforced laminates, like low weight, high strength or stiffness, had resulted in an increase of their use during the last decades. Although parts are normally produced to “near-net” shape, machining operations like drilling are still needed. In result of composites non-homogeneity, this operation can lead to delamination, considered the most ...

This paper presents a prediction and evaluation of delamination factor in use of twist drill, candle stick drill and saw drill. The approach is based on Taguchi’s method and the analysis of variance (ANOVA). An ultrasonic C-Scan to examine the delamination of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminate is used in this paper. The experiments were conducted to study the delamination factor un...

The effects of temperature and loading rate on delamination growth were studied. The delamination fracture toughness of IM7/K3B was measured at 149°C, 177°C, and 204°C. At each temperature the tests were performed with a variety of loading rates so that the delamination initiated over the range of time from 0.5 sec to 24 hrs. The double cantilever beam (DCB) test was used to measure fracture to...