Effect of notch on static and fatigue performance of multilayered composite structures under tensile loads

Fatigue failure of laminated composites containing circular or elliptical (vertical and horizontal) holes and subjected to tension was studied. This research investigates the stress components, the initiation and propagation of static and fatigue damage and failure in notched composite laminates by analytic method and FE model, both of which are validated by experimental tests. The major focus was to understand the failure mechanisms of composites induced by stress concentrations, and to determine the effects of ply orientations, material properties and geometry on the fatigue damage. It was demonstrated that the crack initiation and growth was connected with the interaction of the stress intensity factors (SIFs) KI and KII.