Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Mixed- Mode Interlaminar Fracture of Carbon-Polyester Composite Using Arcan Specimen

This paper reports mixed-mode fracture toughness in Carbon–Polyester composite using the numerical and experimental method. All tests were performed using modified Arcan specimen. By varying the loading angle, α from 0° to 90°, mode I, mixed mode and mode II fracture data were obtained. Correction factors for various conditions were obtained from ABSQUS 6.7 software. Effects of crack length and crack angles on fracture were also studied. The interaction j-integral method was used to separate the mixed– mode stress intensity factors at the crack tip under different loading condition. As the result, it can be seen that the shearing mode interlaminar fracture toughness is larger than the opening mode interlaminar fracture toughness. This means that interlaminar cracked specimen is tougher in shearing loading condition and weaker in tensile loading condition.

Keywords:

Fracture toughness , mixed-mode , composite , finite element , crack , Arcan specimen