Damage development in open-hole composite specimens in fatigue. Part 2: Numerical modelling

When applied to the tests from Part 1 it was found that the predicted damage process had a close match to that observed experimentally. Matrix cracking at the surface ply and initiation of matrix cracks in the subsequent plies lead to delamination through thickness, and ultimately to failure at the −45/0 interface. When run at different severities the model could predict an S-N curve which had good agreement to tests.