Modified End Notched Flexure Specimen for Mixed Mode Interlaminar Fracture in Laminated Composites

Abstract

Interlaminar fracture is a primary damage mode in laminated composites and may occur due to interlaminar defects induced by improper use, faulty maintenance, and foreign object impact damage. In engineering situations, teh majority of interlaminar fracture in service may be developed under mixed mode deformations. It is necessary to evaluate mixed mode interlaminar fracture toughness in laminated composites since it gives information on estimating the resistance to interlaminar fracture under mixed mode deformations.