Crack growth and fracture behavior of fabric reinforced polymer composites

Abstract The objective of this study is to understand and characterize crack deflection and sub‐crack growth in fabric laminate composites. The theory of crack digression based on the Cook‐Gordon mechanism of crack blunting and the criterion developed by Kendall were used to study the crack propagation phenomenon. A simple approach has been developed to evaluate the cohesive and adhesive fracture energies, which play a vital role in the study of strength and toughness of the fabric laminate composites. The effects of strain rate and quasi‐static crack velocity on these energy values were identified. This study explored the possibility of selftoughening in an otherwise brittle composite system. Two competing mechanisms have been identified that control crack propagation in fabric laminate composites.