Journal of Composite

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Experimental and Analytical Studies On the Onset of Delamination in

Laminated Composites
R.Y. Kim and S.R. Soni
Journal of Composite Materials 1984 18: 70
DOI: 10.1177/002199838401800106

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 Experimental and Analytical Studies
On the Onset of Delamination in
Laminated Composites

R. Y. KIM AND S. R. SONI

University of Dayton
Research Institute
Dayton, Ohio 45469
(Received July 13, 1983)
(Revised October 17, 1983)

ABSTRACT
A large number of laminates prone to delamination under uniaxial loading have
been tested. The onset of delamination is determined on the basis of acoustic emission
data. A two parameter failure criterion, i.e. average interlaminar normal stress failure
, has been used in conjunction with the stress analysis done by applying
criterion on σ
=
the global local model [5]. A comparison between the experimental and the predicted
edge delamination threshold strengths has been made. For the class of laminates
studied, the onset of edge delamination load can be accurately predicted.

INTRODUCTION
AMOUNT OF WORK HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE FREE-EDGE
GREAT
A problem in composite laminates, and indicated that free-edge delamina-
tion is
mainly attributed to the existence of interlaminar stresses which are
highly localized in the neighborhood of free-edge under an in-plane loading
[1,2]. As a result of analytical works, such as [1,2], the nature of interlaminar
stresses with regard to magnitude and sign of each interlaminar stress com-
ponent is reasonably well understood.
It is believed that the calculated stress component Oz at the free-edge can be
considerably higher than the experimental value. Also, the stress component
Oz calculated at the free-edge is independent of the thickness of the laminate
as long as the volume fraction of each ply orientation and stacking sequence
are maintained [3,4].
In experiments, the thicker the laminate, the smaller the stress required for
the onset of delamination. Because of these observations [3,4], it is unreason-
able to describe the onset of delamination of laminates with predominant o,
stress component, due to an inplane normal load, on the basis of maximum
stress failure theory.

70 Journal of COMPOSITE MATERIALS, Vol. 18-January 1984

0021-9983/84/01 0070-11 $4.50/0
© 1984 Technomic Publishing Co., Inc.

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In the present study an attempt has been made to adequately predict the
onset of delamination for those laminates in which tensile o. is predominant
at the laminate midsurface where as T,; and T,, are zero. In these laminates,
normal stress component, o. is assumed to be solely responsible for the onset
of delamination. An average stress failure criterion has been applied in con-
junction with the o- distribution calculated by using the global-local model
[5], to predict the delamination threshold load. The predicted values are com-
pared with the experimental results for a variety of laminates made of
T300/5208 graphite/epoxy under in-plane tension and compression. The ef-
fect of transverse cracks on the onset of delamination and its path along the
axial directionare briefly discussed.
A recent investigation of O’Brien [6] on the same topics uses fracture
mechanics approach, which is fundamentally different from the criterion
presented in this paper.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows the laminate coordinate axis rotation notation and direction
of in-plane normal applied stress. The variation of stiffness properties in dif-
ferent directions of the lamina introduces out of plane stress components in
the laminate on the application of in-plane loads. The magnitude of these
stress components depends upon the ply orientation and stacking sequence of
different layers in the laminate. The residual curing stresses too play a signifi-
cant role in the failure of layered nonmetallic composites. The onset of
delamination of different laminates has been, both analytically and ex-
perimentally, investigated. The stress distribution of the significant stress
component o: along the central plane of the laminate has been computed [5]
in the presence of curing stress for T300/5208 graphite epoxy composite
laminates. The following material properties were considered:

E,~1 20 x 106 psi

=

E, =
1.4 X 106 psi
Ez 1.4 x 106 psi
=
x 106
Gi, .8 t = psi
Gl: .8 x 106 psi
=
G,: .6 x 106 psi
=

vi, = .3
vi, =Z.3
~ = .6
al = 12.38 x 10-6/ OF
(x, =-0.5xio&dquo;/°F
A T - -200 °F

ONSET OF DELAMINATION PREDICTION AND EXPERIMENTS

The distribution of a. on the central plane for [±30/90]S and [0/±45/90]S
laminates under applied uniaxial tension based upon the global-local model
[5] is shown in Figures 1 and 2. In both the cases a large gradient of a. along

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72

Figure t Interlaminar normal stress distribution at midplane along Y-axis for /±30/9dJ, laminate.

Figure 2. Interlaminar normal stress distribution at midplane along Y-axis for l0/±45/gOl.
laminate.

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 73

the y-direction in the vicinity of the free-edge region exists. The maximum
value of o- is at the free-edge. The average stress criterion (depicted in Figure
3) assumes failure to occur when the average value of o. over a fixed distance,
ho, along the width of the laminate at its midplane ahead of the free-edge
reaches interlaminar tensile strength, S,, that is, when

The fixed distance, ho is called a critical length and was taken as one ply thick-
ness for all the cases. This averaging procedure is similar to that proposed by
Whitney and Nuismer on the failure study of notched specimen [7]. Because
of the experimental difficulty in determining S, of a composite laminate, the
S, is assumed to be equal to the transverse strength of the composite material
(7.5 ksi).
The following laminates were studied:

Figure 3 Averaging the a over the distance, ho from a free-edge.

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74

All these laminates develop tensile a. at the intersection of the midplane and
free-edge under applied uniaxial loading and are expected to delaminate in
the course of loading prior to final failure. Results for a number of other
laminates are given in Reference [8].
All test specimens were straight sided coupon with 0.75&dquo; wide and 4&dquo;long
for tension and 2.5&dquo; long for compression.
Free-edges of two specimens fo each laminate were grounded and then
polished to facilitate microscopic examination. All specimens were stored in a
dry cabinet at room temperature until test in order to prevent any moisture
absorption in laboratory environment. The weight gain in specimen was less
than 0.35°7o during the storage period of one month. Delamination threshold
stress under tension was determined by the acoustic emission technique.
However, because of difficulty in instrumenting acoustic emission transducer
in the compression test due to the presence of antibuckling device, the
delamination threshold stress was determined visually and audibly during the
test. At the moment the delamination was observed, the specimen was
unloaded and the damage was confirmed by examining the free-edge under a
microscope. All specimens were tested using MTS testing machine with cons-
tant loading rate of 5 lb./sec.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A typical result of acoustic emission signals recorded to determine the
delamination threshold stress level is shown in Figure 4. A sudden jump of
acoustic emission signal in Figure 4 is indicative of onset of delamination.
The sporadic low level signals followed by the sudden jump is mainly due to
transverse cracking in the weaker ply.
Microscopic examination of the free-edges indicated that under compres-
sion the delamination occurred at the midplane, where a. was maximum,

Figure 4. Acoustic emission vs. applied stress which indicates the onset of delamination.

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 75

Figure 5 MIcrophotograph showmg delamtnatlon m the l±30~.9i0/ lammate under tensIOn

prior first ply failure. In the case of applied tensile load the delamina-
to the
tion preceded by a number of transverse cracks. The scanning of free
was

edges of specimen along the length shows that the delamination took place
mostly at the interface between the 90and the adjacent ply and at a few
places of the midplane. Figures 5 and 6 show the delamination at two dif-
ferent locations along the length of the specimen at the onset of delamination.
Figures 7 to 12 show the comparison between prediction and experiment.
The solid line and dotted line indicate the predicted value obtained from the
average stress criterion and maximum point stress criterion, respectively. Ex-
perimental results are indicated as a circle for the various values of n for each
family of the laminate. Each data point represents the average of four to
seven specimens. The coefficient of variation is less than 1107o for all
laminates. The maximum point stress criterion appears to be very conser-
vative in most cases and fails in accounting for the laminate thickness effect
in the cases of [~30n/90n]&dquo; [0~,/±45&dquo;/90&dquo;]~ and [0/90/45 J,. The experimen-

Figure 6. Microphotograph showing delamlnatlon m the ~0/±45/.9i01 lammate under tension

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76

Figure 7. Comparison of prediction and experiment for onset of delamination: - average stress
criterion, ----maximum point stress criterion, O experiments.

Rgure 8. Comparison of prediction and experiment for onset of delamination. - average stress
criterion, ---
maximum point stress criterion, O experiments.

Figure 9. Comparison of prediction and experiment for onset of delamination. - average stress
criterion, ---
maximum point stress criterion, 0 experiments.

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 77

Rgure 10. Comparison of prediction and experiment for onset of delamination. - average stress
criterion, maximum point stress criterion, U · experiments.
---

Figure 11. Comparison of prediction and experiment for onset of delamination, - prediction
average stress criteria, o. experiments (compressive loading).

Rgure 12. Compatison of prediction and experiment for onset of delamination, - prediction
average stress criterion, 0 expAriments.

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 78

tal results compare very well with the predicted values using the average stress
failure criterion except for the [0/±45/90e]s laminate.
The considerably premature delamination indicated by acoustic emission in
the [0/±45/906]5 laminate can be mainly attributed to the large transverse
crack (12 layers of 90 deg. stacked together) as shown in Reference [9]. In this
laminate the delamination occurred in the form of axial cracks that developed
at the tip of the transverse cracks and failure took place without revealing any
noticeable growth of the delamination toward the middle of the specimen
width. Therefore, the large increase of acoustic emission signals is considered
mostly due to transverse and axial cracking initiated in the laminate. It is thus
unreasonable to consider the axial crack as the delamination due to inter-
laminar normal stress. The specimen failed at 31 ksi, which is smaller than the
predicted delamination threshold stress, 41 ksi. To demonstrate further ef-
fects of transverse cracking, two types of laminates, [0/903/±45]5 and
[0/906/±45]5 were tested under tension-tension fatigue until the prescribed
cycle. After fatiguing, the free-edge of each specimen was examined under a
microscope to insure that a number of transverse cracks were formed. Figure
13 shows the microphotographs of transverse cracks developed during
fatigue. These specimens were then tested under compression and the
delamination threshold level was determined. The experimental results were
plotted with solid circles to compare with those of virgin specimens in Figure
11. The data point represents an average of four specimens. The delamination
threshold level is virtually unchanged in the case of [0/903/±45]S and is
slightly decreased in the case of [0/906/±45]5. The major delamination oc-
curred at the interface of +45/-45 layers with the tips of transverse cracks as

flgure 13. Microphotographs showing transverse crack and delamination for a specimen of
fO/90J/-.:r.45J. laminate which first subjected to tension-tension fatigue up to 10,000 cycle
was
with maximum fatigue stress, 35 ksi (a) and then subject to static compression until delamination
was observed (b).

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 79

.y~,.-

Figure 14. Microphotograph showlng delammatlon for fO/90Jz.451- laminate under static com-
presslon.

presented. In virgin specimen, the major delamination occurred in the

midplane as shown in Figure 14.
CONCLUSION
A
relatively simple approach has been presented to predict adequately the
onset of delamination in composite laminates. Although the present ap-
proach is based upon the two parameters (oz and ho), the results agree well
with experimental data for a variety of laminates of T300/5208 graphite/
epoxy under both in-plane tensile and compressive loading. A more com-
prehensive effort will be required to supplement this work in order to achieve
a complete description of the onset of delamination, especially for those
laminates in which the predominant interlaminar stress components are other
than tensile o..
The present model does not account for the presence of transverse cracks.
The experimental onset of delamination load is dependent upon the
transverse crack length. The comparison between the predicted and the ex-
perimental results indicates that there exists a critical crack size beyond which
the predicted results differ markedly from the experimental values. Further
investigations are required to establish the critical transverse crack size.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge R. Esterline of the University of Dayton
Research Institute for preparation and testing of specimens, and Dr. N. J.
Pagano of the Air Force Materials Laboratory for his helpful suggestion on
this study. This work was sponsored by the Nonmetallic Materials Division,
Air Force Materials Laboratory, under Contract No. F33615-81-C-5056.

REFERENCES
1. Pagano, N. J., "Stress Fields in Composite Laminates," Int. J. Solids Structures, Vol. 14, pp.
385-400, 1978.

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80

2. Pagano, N. J., and Pipes, R. B., "Some Observation on the Interlaminar Strength of Com-
posite Laminates," Int. J. Mech. Sci., Vol. 15, 1973, pp. 679-688.
3. Kim, R. Y., and Soni, S. R., "Initiation of Delamination of Composite Laminates," Pro-
ceedings of the 1982 Joint Conference on Experimental Mechanics, SESA, Oahu-Maui,
Hawaii, May 1982.
4. Rodini, B. T. Jr., and Eisenman, J. R., "An Analytical and Experimental Investigation of
Edge Delamination in Composite Laminates," Proc. 4th Conf. Fibrous Composites, San
Diego, CA, November 1978.
5. Pagano N. J., and Soni, S. R., "Global-Local Laminate Variational Model," Int. J. Solids
Structures, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 207-288, 1983.
6. O’Brien, T. Kevin, "Characterization of Delamination Onset and Growth in a Composite
Laminate," NASA Technical Memorandum 81940, January, 1981.
7. Whitney, J. M., and Nuismer, R. J., "Stress Fracture Criteria for Laminated Composites
Containing Stress Concentrations," J. of Composite Materials, Vol. 8 (July 1974), p. 253.
8. Soni, S. R., and Pagano, N. J., "Elastic Response of Composite Laminate," Presented at
IUTAM Symposium on Mechanics of Composite Mateirals, VPI, Blacksburg, VA, August
1982.
9. Kim, R. Y., and Aoki, R. M., "Transverse Cracking and Delamination in Composite
Materials," Fiber and Science and Technology, 1983.