H Soltani - Graduate student
M Mohseni Shakib - Professor
M Mojtahedpour - M.Sc Student, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Imam Hosien University,

This paper aims at developing the numerical of delamination in laminated composite structures. Formation of initial delamination and growth of existing delamination in T-shape laminated made of plies of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin is investigated computationally. Cohesive zone element (CZE) is employed to predict delamination initiation while delamination propagation is analyzed using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM).Two techniques based on LEFM that have been utilized successfully within the framework of the finite element method (FEM) for the simulation of delamination growth, the virtual crack closer technique (VCCT) and cohesive zone element (CZE). Furthermore the growth stability, the sensitivity of the results with respect to a change in the interface properties, and non linear structural response caused by the delamination growth process are determined. Finally this paper proposes future work for precise prediction of delamination of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin T-shape specimens.

Fiber reinforced materials; Fracture mechanics; delamination; finite element analysis