Macrocrack Microcrack Interaction in Dissimilar Anisotropic Materials

Abstract

Because of their potential for reducing weight and the capacities of optimizing the structural strength and stiffness, laminated fiber reinforced composite materials are widely used in light structures, and are applied to replace many metallic components usually used before. However, the mechanical behaviors of such materials influenced by the fiber and matrix interaction, the matrix microcracks and the multiple ply configurations show very complicated features, which have challenged designers with a new class of problems. One particular area which has received considerable attention in the past two decades, has been their low tolerance to interfacial damage and the other is concerned with damage of micro-defects such as micro-cracks, micro-voids, and micro-inclusions. The occurrences of these types of damage, which are frequently caused by impact or other sources, are common and unavoidable during manufacturing, maintenance, and service of the light structures (see Figure 5.1).