Numerical analysis of rate-dependent dynamic composite delamination

Abstract We present a simplified analysis of dynamic delamination in composites. Our task is the development of a simple tool to evaluate rate-dependency effects on crack propagation. The delamination process of a composite layer from a rigid substrate is modelled through a cohesive law with a rate-dependent fracture energy, assumed to depend on the velocity of the displacement jump. We model the composite layer as an Euler–Bernoulli beam and analyze the dynamics of the delamination growth as a function of the loading rate. We obtain the numerical solution by using a spatial central finite difference scheme coupled with explicit time integration.