Mode I cohesive zone model for delamination in composite beams

•The beam on elastic foundation analysis of mode I delamination was revisited.•A single extensional foundation enabled accurate modelling of DCB specimens.•The analysis was extended to allow cohesive zone modelling (CZM).•Results agreed very well with FEA of moment-loaded DCB specimens.

A cohesive zone model was developed for mode I delamination in composite beams. The present model is an extension of a beam on elastic foundation analysis similar to the one that led to the well-known corrected beam theory data reduction scheme. In particular, it is demonstrated that the shear foundation considered in most formulations can actually be discarded, thereby allowing a much simpler model implementation. The present model agrees very well with finite element analyses of double cantilever beam and moment-loaded double cantilever beam specimens with a wide range of properties.