Fracture in Laminated Materials

The effects of weak interfaces in laminated materials are examined in terms of the triaxial tensions operative at a crack tip. Depending on the orientation of the interface relative to the crack, the triaxial tensions may cause distinct types of delamination during crack propagation. The crack may be arrested by delamination and may have to be re-initiated under conditions of uniaxial tension. Alternatively the crack may be divided by …