Fatigue delamination growth in woven glass/epoxy composite laminates under mixed-mode II/III loading conditions at cryogenic temperatures

•We studied the cryogenic mixed-mode II/III fatigue delamination growth in woven laminates.•The resistance to fatigue delamination growth at cryogenic temperatures is higher than that at room temperature.•The fracture surfaces show the presence of matrix hackles.•The inclined hackles are identified with the mixed-mode II/III delamination growth.

We investigate the cryogenic delamination growth behavior in woven glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates under mixed-mode II/III fatigue loading. Fatigue delamination tests were conducted with six-point bending plate (6PBP) specimens at room temperature, liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) and liquid helium temperature (4 K), and the delamination growth rate data for various mixed-mode ratios of Modes II and III were obtained. The energy release rate was evaluated using the three-dimensional finite element method. In addition, the fatigue delamination growth mechanisms were characterized by scanning electron microscopic observations of the specimen fracture surfaces.