Numerical analysis of multi-layer composite plates with internal delamination

A three-dimensional finite element model for the delaminated fiber reinforced composites is proposed to analyze the dynamics of multi-layer composite plates with internal delamination. Virtual elements are adopted in the region of delamination to prevent element penetration. Natural frequency, modal displacement and modal strain are analyzed for samples with different dimensions of delamination. Numerical results show a good agreement with the available experimental data and an enhancement of the accuracy of the results when the proposed model is adopted. The results of this study are useful for detecting delamination in multi-layer composite materials. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.