Effect of a secondary transverse load on the inter-fibre failure under compression

At present, the progress in the failure criteria of unidirectional reinforced laminates requires the study of the evolution of the mechanisms of damage at micromechanical level. The objective of this paper is the study of the influence (at micromechanical scale) of a secondary transverse load (tension or compression), perpendicular to the transverse compression nominally responsible for the failure, on the inter-fibre failure under compression. The Boundary Elements Method and Interfacial Fracture Mechanics concepts are employed. It is shown that a secondary tension accelerates the generation of failure whereas a secondary compression inhibits it.