Modeling the R-curve effects in laminate composites using the interface thick level set method

This paper presents a new model for simulating delamination growth in composites in presence of the resistance curve (R-curve) effects. This model is extended from the interface thick level set (ITLS) method which is developed recently. In this approach the common definition of damage in the constitutive relationship of the interface elements is replaced with a new damage definition based on the thick level set (TLS) method. This new damage...