Simulation of delamination in fiber composites with a discrete cohesive failure model

Delamination initiation and growth are analyzed by using a discrete cohesive crack model. The model is derived by postulating the existence of a maximum load surface which limits the adhesive forces in the process zone of the crack. The size of the maximum load surface is made dependent on the amount of dissipated crack opening work such that the maximum load surface shrinks to zero as a predefined amount of work is consumed. Mode I, II, III loading or any combined loading is possible. The delamination model is implemented in the explicit finite-element code LS-DYNA and simulation results are found to be in agreement with experimental results. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.