CRACK DAMAGE AND GROWTH BEHAVIOR OF BRAIDED COMPOSITE

Damage evolution and growth of Glass/Epoxy braided composites with crack subjected to three-point-bending load are studied by means of digital speckle correlation method. A series of speckle images with crack tip deformation information are recorded, and the displacement fields are obtained at different load levels. Some fracture parameters such as stress intensity factor and energy release rate of crack tip are determined. The fracture mechanisms of braided composite are analyzed by both macro and micro mechanics.