A quick procedure to predict free-edge delamination in thin-ply laminates under tension

Delaminations at the free-edges of a laminated composite under tension can be triggered by transverse cracks or by high interlaminar stresses. The capability for predicting these phenomena when the ply thickness is reduced (thin-ply laminates) is particularly challenging because damage mechanisms are delayed or even suppressed. In this work, an existing energy-based failure criterion and a simplified finite element model with cohesive elements...