Three-point bending analysis with cohesive surface interaction for improved delamination prediction and application of carbon fibre reinforced plastics composites

Carbon fibre reinforced plastics laminates were loaded through to fracture in a three-point bending configuration, to gain understanding of the cohesive interaction between plies and validate mechanical properties and predictive capability of the FE model. The effect of mesh refinement, scaling techniques, failure models and cohesive surfaces were investigated. Fibre orientations investigated were parallel, 45 and perpendicular to the loading. …