Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Crack Migration in Carbon-Epoxy Composites Subjected to Shear Loading

Abstract

This study investigates shear-driven intralaminar crack migration and delamination in tape-laminate carbon-epoxy composites. A new test procedure is proposed using the end-loaded-split (ELS) test configuration combined with a dual actuator load frame to control the crack migration process caused by shear loading. Several experimental ELS tests were completed to gain a full understanding of the migration process, with results indicating that the crack migrations and delaminations are repeatable and can be used for numerical validation. Numerical models were able to replicate the linear elastic response of experimental specimens but had discrepancies when simulating crack growth. Migrations could be captured but transverse damage growth and delamination following migration events gave inconsistent results.