Fracture Mechanics of

Delamination Buckling in
Laminated Composites
Kenneth Hunziker
4/28/08

Low Velocity Impact of a Laminated Composite Plate

Laminated composite materials
have a strength-to-weight ratio
advantage over many other
materials

L
l

Low velocity impact causes a

delamination in the plate (size
determined by impactor and plate
parameters)
A compressive load o increases
the delaminated area through
coupled delamination and
delamination buckling
The growth of the damage
through delamination buckling is
analyzed using fracture criterion
based on energy release rate
Analyzed through 1-D and 2-D

Simplifications/Assumptions
One delamination caused by impact is analyzed
Delamination size is large compared to the laminate thickness but
small compared to the laminate size
Growth of the delamination is in the original damage plane
Properties of the plate are considered to be homogeneous, isotropic
and linearly elastic

1-D Delamination Models*

Thin Film

Thick Column General

* Reference [1

1-D Thin Film Model*

x = - o
z = - o
Shortening

ii

iii

* Reference [1

1-D Thin Film Analysis - Deflection*

Buckling strain of the film using beam/plate theory

cr

2
3(1 ) l
2

Post buckled film shape

1
2x
y A 1 cos

2
l
Solve for amplitude A using:

o cr 1 2 l l2 1 dy dx
2 2 dx
l

2l
2
A o cr
1

2

* Reference [1

1-D Thin Film Analysis Strain Energy*

Strain energy in the buckled layer (case iii)

U iii

Gives:

Ehl
Eh
2
2
cr 1 2 2 o l2
2

2
2 24 1
Membrane

d y

dx
2
dx
2

Bending

2
Ehl 1 2

2
2
U iii
2

cr
o
o cr
2
2

Energy release rate as l (l+l)

Eh 1 2
o cr o 3 cr
Ga
2

* Reference [1

1-D Thin Film Analysis Energy Release Rate Result

o*

o* o

Eh

2
2 1

l* l

2 1

1/ 2

o*

h
* 1 / 4
o

* Reference [1

1-D Thin Film Analysis Length of the delaminated re

* Reference [1

1-D General Analysis*

2
L

Each section is treated as a beam column with compatibility and equilib

conditions applied at the interfaces
Gives the following deflections:

l1
2u1 x1
1 cos

y1
2u1 sin 2u1
l1
yi

li
2ui sin ui

cos

2ui xi cos 2ui

, i 2,3

li
cos ui

* Reference [1

1-D General Analysis*

Examining the overall shortening of the plate
2

l1

l /2

dy1
1 2 dy2
dx1 2l2
dx2 h
o L 2 1l1
dx1
2 l2 / 2 dx2
0

3l3

l3 / 2

l2 / 2

dy3
dy2
1
1

dx3 t
dx

3
2 2

2 l3 / 2 dx3
2 l2 / 2 dx2

Using plane strain, stresses and strains are:

x i
z i

E
2 o i
2
1

E
o i
2
1

z i o

x i i

* Reference [1

1-D General Analysis*

The strain energy of the system is
2

l1

d 2 y1
dx1
U x 1 x 1 z 1 z 1 t1l1 D1
2
dx
1
0
i

d 2 yi
1 3
dxi
x i x i z i z i ti li Di
2
2 i 2
dxi

li / 2

l /2

In order to solve for the four unknowns 1, 2, 3 and we combine the

displacement equations with the equilibrium and shortening equations
The resulting four equations do not have a closed form solution
Solve numerically
The strain energy release rate can be found with a numerical
differentiation
The same analysis can be preformed with the assumption that only
section 3 contributes to the bending Thick Column case

* Reference [1

1-D General Analysis*

* Reference [1]

2-D Delamination Model*

b
Displacement constraints:
b
a

x2 y2
2 1
2
a
b

u o x
v o y
w w
w

0
x y

Two part analysis

Elastic stability Solved through the Raleigh-Ritz method
Delamination growth after buckling Energy approach through
fracture mechanics

* Reference [2

2-D Delamination Analysis*

Energy release rate for the system due to a increase in delamination

d
G
Go
dA
Gives

a db
b da
a db
1
b da

G a Gb

Where

1 U
Go
b a
1 U
Ga
Go
b b
Ga

* Reference [2]

2-D Delamination Analysis*

* Reference [2

Conclusions
A one-dimensional model can be used to simplify analysis of a more
complete two-dimensional model
Simplifications can be made to the two-dimensional model based
on initial damage relative size parameters
Either stable or unstable growth can occur in both the one and
two-dimensional model with increasing load
A thin-film one-dimensional approach can be used as the
delamination being analyzed approaches the plate surface
The initial parameters of the damage in a structure determine the
behavior of the damage as load is increased
Both stable and unstable growth can occur based on the size/area
of the initial damage

Further Analysis
Further improvements of the 1-D model include:
Multiple delaminations
Non-homogeneous material properties
Further improvements of the 2-D model:
Delamination shape, circular and elliptical
Anisotropic material
The role of fiber direction in delamination growth
Multiple delaminations

References
One Dimensional Analysis
1. Chai, H., Babcock, C., Knauss, W., One Dimensional Modelling of
Failure in Laminated Plates by Delamination Buckling, Int. J.
Solids Structure, Vol. 17,. No. 11, pp. 1069-1083, 1981
Two Dimensional Analysis
2. Chai, H., Babcock, C., Two-Dimensional Modelling of
Compressive Failure in Delaminated Laminates, Journal of
Composite Materials, Vol. 19,. No. 1, pp. 67-98, 1985

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