INFLUENCE OF DAMAGE ON THE THERMAL RESPONSE OF GRAPHITE-EPOXY LAMINATES

Abstract
A “constrained ” displacement finite element approach for studying the influence of transverse cracks and delaminations on the thermal response of laminated composites is presented. Typical results are given in the form of percent retention curves for the coefficient of thermal expansion as a function of crack density. Cross-ply and quasi-isotropic T300/5208 graphite-epoxy laminates are considered. It is shown that transverse cracks can have a significant influence on the coefficient of thermal expansion, but delaminations located symmetrically about the laminate mid-plane have no influence on thermal expansion.

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