Interlocking thin-ply reinforcement concept for improved fracture toughness and damage tolerance

An original concept for improving the delamination resistance and damage tolerance of a composite laminate is proposed. The concept is to insert interlocked thin-ply reinforcement units between the laminae. Each reinforcement unit consists of two thin-ply layers with tabs cut into one layer, and slits cut into the other layer. The slits, and the long axis of the tabs, are parallel to the fibre direction in their respective layers. The two...