THE IMPROVED PLY CRACKING RESISTANCE OF THIN-PLY LAMINATES

摘要

In conventional multidirectional laminates, matrix/interface cracks occur prematurely in plies with fibers oblique to the loading much before final failure. However, laminates fabricated with thinner plies, called the thin-ply laminates, are able to avoid ply cracking almost up to final laminate failure. The present paper presents further results on the ply cracking and delamination resistance of these thin-ply laminates under static and cyclic tensile loadings. While thinner ply reduces ply cracking and delamination, it does not appear to improve strength and fatigue lifetime as thick-ply laminates have almost the same strength and life as thin-ply laminates even after extensive ply cracking and delamination. This may be another manifestation of final failure of laminates being fiber-controlled.