ANALYSIS OF FRACTURE TOUGHNESS MODE–I OF TAPERED DOUBLE CANTILEVER BEAM

Composite Materials are used in the making of structural components, marine components; automobile components, aerospace components and its application are widespread throughout various engineering fields. The main aim focused is about finding the rigidity of the materials under varying width with uniformity and to determine the point and region where the crack of mode - I propagate. To determine the crack length, an advanced screening system is required. But in case of width tapered double cantilever beam, the load becomes constant once the crack gets initiated. The width tapered double cantilever beam test was carried out for different mid layer materials and various taper ratios of 2.5, 3 and 4. The specimen has Carbon-Carbon and Carbon- Glass materials are kept as the mid layer. The fracture resistance capacity increases with the taper ratio. In this, the Carbon- Glass interface mid layer had more fracture energy than the Carbon- Carbon mid layer specimens. The fracture resistance capacity increases with orientation. The experiment result is compared with the FEA result. The fatigue life of carbon glass mid layer with 45-degree orientation is studied.