Delamination buckling: A finite element study with realistic delamination shapes, multiple delaminations and fibre fracture cracks

This paper presents a finite element model of a carbon fibre composite laminate with multiple delaminations of realistic shape and including fibre fracture cracks loaded under compression. The modelling technique is initially applied on circular and elliptical delaminations of single ply sublaminates, which are compared with existing analytical solutions. The techniques are then applied to models with multiple delaminations of realistic shape and their behaviour in buckling and post-buckling is captured. An inverse method is used to determine the stiffness reduction caused by the damage, and shows significant stiffness reduction caused by peanut shaped delaminations. When fibre fracture cracks are added, their contribution to further stiffness reduction is minimal but they have some significant effects on the buckling shapes.