Experimental and analytical characterizations of finite interlaminar crack growth of 2D woven textile composites

Due to the weave structure of woven textile composites, unstably finite crack growths are observed in the quasi-static interlaminar fracture tests for unidirectional woven textile composites. The unstable crack growth speed and finite crack growth length are up to 60 m/s and 24 mm, respectively. A double compliances method is used to measure the fracture toughnesses for the static and dynamic crack growths. It is found that the double compliances method is very accurate and much simpler than the ASTM standard methods for determining the static fracture toughness. With the help of a high speed camera and the double compliances method, the fracture toughness of the unstable crack is given in this paper.