The influence of surface ply fibre angle on the compressive strength of composite laminates containing delamination

A combination of uniaxial compression tests and Strip Model and Finite Element analyses of laminates artificially delaminated to create circular (±θ) sublaminates is used to assess the influence of fibre angle on the compressive strength of composite laminates. Sublaminates with 0° < θ < 40° are found to fail by sublaminate-buckling-driven delamination propagation and provide poor tolerance of delamination. This is a consequence of their...