Damage Evolution in Viscoelastic Composites With Delaminations Containing a Process Zone

The development of delamination damage in a viscoelastic laminated composite is examined in this paper. Mechanical response at the ply level is obtained from micro mechanics in which the matrix is assumed to possess viscoelastic behavior. This model accounts for the process zone that forms ahead of the delamination via nonlinear interfacial constitutive responses. The transformation of this process zone into a pair of delaminated surfaces is dictated by the interfacial constitutive behavior. Simulations of delamination evolution in cross-ply laminates subjected to displacement controlled three-point bending indicate that a considerable amount of damage occurs while at constant mid-span displacement.