Analysis of complex stress intensities for cracked laminates (Q1914583)

Classical plate theory has been used to find out interfacial stress intensity factors in composite laminates. By using a well-known relation between the crack-tip energy release rate and the complex stress intensity factor, a closed-form solution for complex stress intensity factor is given in terms of external loading and a mode-mix-parameter for fairly general composite laminates. Small scale contact condition is expressed in terms of external loading. In particular, a symmetric property of interfacial toughness curve is proven.