Studies on Traction Separation Relations in Fracture of Layered Composites

Layered fiber reinforced composite materials are prone to fracture in planes parallel to the direction of fibers leading to extensive delamination or intralaminar fracture. This phenomenon of crack propagation is frequently accompanied by significant increase in fracture resistance due to different damage mechanisms active on the wake of the crack. The developed zone comprises intact pulled-out fibers bridging the crack faces forming the...