Fatigue of laminated composite structures with stress concentrations

A model defined at the ply scale to predict the failure of laminated composites for static and fatigue loadings has been proposed. The model describes the loss of strength in the fibre direction for high levels of transverse damage. This phenomenon can be observed in a 0° tube by applying a cyclic torsion loading up to a high level of damage followed by a tensile test. The model includes an original approach based on a Fracture Characteristic Volume (FCV) to predict the fibre failure of laminated structures with stress concentrations. The FCV is a cylinder defined at the ply scale where the average stress is calculated and compared to the maximal strength of the material. The fibre failure model and an application to open hole plates loaded in fatigue are presented in this paper.