Mode 1 Delamination Analysis and Its Comparative Study of Carbon/Epoxy, Graphite/Epoxy and Kevlar/Epoxy Composite Structures using Vcct in Ansys

In polymer composite materials manufactured using conventional hand layup technique is more prone to delamination. Delamination is one type of common failure observed in laminated composites. In present investigation delamination, due to opening mode (Mode-1) of a double cantilevered beam has been analyzed. A finite element method approach using ANSYS software is employed to determine the delamination, due to plane loading in addition to opening mode. Using CONTA and TAREGET meshing elements, determined the exact results of delamination. Understanding of delamination parameters was further extended, in terms of strain energy release rate, utilizing virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). To gain a better understanding of the origin of denomination fracture toughness, used modified beam theory to predict strain energy release rate of delamination in composite materials. All the analysis has been done for carbon/epoxy, graphite/epoxy and Kevlar/epoxy and compared.