Delamination Originating from Transverse Crack Tips in Laminates under Mechanical Loadings

A singular finite element method is formulated utilizing the asymptotic solutions for displacements and stresses near the tip of interfacial crack between dissimilar anisotropic materials and the variational principle of a hybrid functional. Laminates with delamination originating from transverse crack tips are analyzed by the singular hybrid element at the delamination tip together with the conventional displacement-based elements around the hybrid element. Numerical results show the efficiency and accuracy of the present singular finite element for the analysis of the stress distributions near the tip of delamination in laminate under plane strain extension, antiplane shear and plane strain bending.