Effects of geometric nonlinearities on damage propagation in patched beam-plates subjected to pressure loading

The problem of edge debonding of patched beam-plates subjected to transverse pressure is examined using two related mathematical models; one which incorporates geometric nonlinearities and the other which neglects them. The models, developed in a prior study, present the energy release rates in self-consistent functional form and yield closed form analytical solutions for the specific problem of interest. Results of numerical simulations based on each model are presented in the form of debond growth paths and compared. The growth paths are subsequently presented with corresponding pre-growth load-deflection paths to further examine the differences resulting from each model. It is seen that significant discrepancies occur between the behaviors predicted by the two models, both with regard to the onset of damage propagation and with regard to the stability of the process, as well as with regard to the pre-growth behavior, demonstrating the critical influence of geometric nonlinearities on the phenomena of interest.