An iterative analytical/experimental study of bridging in delamination of the double cantilever beam specimen

Large scale bridging in mode-I delamination of layered composites is an important toughening mechanism. While its extent depends on constituent materials, it is also influenced by specimen geometry. Here, an analytical approach is adopted to express the through the thickness longitudinal strains in a double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen with the applied load and bridging tractions. The expression for the strains is confronted with strain data...