A simulation method for high‐cycle fatigue‐driven delamination using a cohesive zone model

Summary A novel computational method for simulating fatigue‐driven mixed‐mode delamination cracks in laminated structures under cyclic loading is presented. The proposed fatigue method is based on linking a cohesive zone model for quasi‐static crack growth and a Paris' law‐like model described as a function of the energy release rate for the crack growth rate during cyclic loading. The J ‐integral has been applied to determine the energy release rate. Unlike other cohesive fatigue methods, the proposed method depends only on quasi‐static properties and Paris' law parameters without relying on parameter fitting of any kind. The method has been implemented as a zero‐thickness eight‐node interface element for Abaqus and as a spring element for a simple finite element model in MATLAB. The method has been validated in simulations of mode I, mode II, and mixed‐mode crack loading for both self‐similar and non‐self‐similar crack propagation. The method produces highly accurate results compared with currently available methods and is capable of simulating general mixed‐mode non‐self‐similar crack growth problems.