Experimental method for mode I fracture toughness of composite laminates using wedge loaded double cantilever beam specimens

This study proposes a simple and accurate data reduction scheme for the wedge loaded double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen. The effects of axial loading applied by wedges were considered for the evaluation of mode I energy release rate. Furthermore, a methodology for the determination of crack length during the tests was proposed. The presented method was verified by both finite-element (FE) analyses and fracture toughness tests. The results of...