Mode I intra-laminar crack growth in composites — modelling of R-curves from measured bridging laws

In this paper R-curves for mode I crack growth in composites are modelled based on measured bridging laws. It is shown that simulated and measured R-curves are in good agreement. Simulations show that variations in the measured bridging law parameters can explain the scatter in overall R-curves. Finite element procedures for treating a generalised nonlinear law for intra-laminar fibre bridging (longitudinal splitting) in combination with R-curve...