Mixed mode delamination in plates: A refined approach (Q5956748)

Delamination growth is assumed to occur along a straight interface between layers, so that the energy release rate can be expressed as G = GI + GII. An interface model yields a linear relation between displacement jumps. Kirchhoff assumption for the layers and the corresponding equilibrium and boundary conditions result in an algebraic eigenvalue problem, which can be solved leading to algebraic expressions for GI and GII as well as for interlaminare stresses. In the case of a symmetrical two-layer system, even a closed form solution is obtained. The Mindlin-Reissner plate theory includes additional energy terms arising from the interaction between shear and normal stresses, which modifies the order of singularity of interlaminar shear stresses.