Fracture toughness of the + 45° / - 45° interface of a laminate composite

Experiments are carried out to determine the delamination toughness for a crack along the interface between two transversely isotropic materials. The material chosen for study consists of carbon fibers embedded within an epoxy matrix. A crack is introduced between two layers of this material, with fibers in the upper layer along the +45°-direction and those in the lower layer along the -45° -direction both with respect to the crack plane. The Brazilian disk specimen is employed in the testing. To calibrate the specimens, stress intensity factors are obtained which result from the applied load, as well as residual curing stresses. It may be noted that all three modes are coupled, leading to a three-dimensional problem. The finite element method and a mechanical M-integral are employed to determine the stress intensity factors arising from the applied load. For the residual stresses, a three-dimensional conservative thermal M-integral is presented for stress intensity factor determination. The stress intensity factors found for the applied load and residual stresses are superposed to obtain a local energy release rate, together with two phase angles. From the load at fracture, the critical interface energy release rate or interface toughness G_ic as a function of phase angles Ψ and Φ is determined. Results are compared to a fracture criterion.