Semi‐analytical method for the stress analysis of transverse cracks in composite structures

In this paper a semi-analytical approach is developed which enables the computation of stress field in vicinity transverse crack symmetric cross-ply laminated plates subjected to an in-plane tensile load. Due assumption plane state strain, analytical model can be reduced two-dimensional plate strip. After discretization considered laminate into mathematical layers with respect thickness direction, displacements for undamaged part are derived by making use classical theory. To incorporate cracks formulation, closed-form solution upgraded so-called ‘local solution’ that incorporates unknown displacement functions, specified interfaces numerical layers, as well Lagrangian interpolation functions different order. The governing equations determined means principle minimum elastic potential and eventually yield quadratic eigenvalue problem requires evaluation. obtained formulation previously defined interface includes ‘weight factors' have characterized adequate boundary continuity conditions. Consequently, solving resulting linear system equations, full-scale representation displacement-, strain- within damaged obtained. method verified comparison results detailed finite element simulations. Using only fraction computational effort, show comparable accuracy method.