Stiffness Identification and Tearing Analysis for Coated Membranes under Biaxial Loads

In the first part of this paper, we have developed a mixed numerical and experimental method for the evaluation of the in-plane stiffness matrix of coated fabrics used in tensile architecture and submitted to biaxial loading. The evaluation of the stress distribution on cross-shaped samples is conducted with a finite element analysis soft ware. In the second part, we have observed and analysed failure mechanisms of previously ripped samples, particularly by the evaluation of the influence of the crack length and direction on its propagation with uniaxial and biaxial tests.