Mesh size sensitivity analysis for interlaminar fracture of the fiber-reinforced laminated composites

The virtual crack closure technique is a well-known finite element–based numerical method used to simulate fractures and it suits well to both of two-dimensional and three-dimensional interlaminar fracture analysis. In particular, strain energy release rate during a three-dimensional interlaminar fracture of laminated composite materials can successfully be computed using the virtual crack closure technique. However, the element size of a...