Fatigue life prediction of cross-ply laminated composite plates using the kinetic theory of fracture

In this paper the kinetic theory of fracture is employed to predict fatigue life of composite cross-ply laminates. To this end, carrying stress in each layer is determined based on classical plate theory. Then using the rate dependent kinetic theory of fracture, damage index for constituents of each layer, matrix and fiber, are determined separately. According to these values, mechanical degradation model are applied separately for fiber and matrix material properties and the overall property of each layer will be updated. In this way carrying stress in each layer and consequently in fiber and matrix will be changed and fatigue failure is take place when value of fiber or matrix damage index in all layers of cross-ply laminated composite rises to the critical value. In this approach material parameters in fiber and matrix kinetic theory of fracture equations will be determined using experimental fatigue data for the longitudinal (θ= 0°) and transverse (θ= 90°) unidirectional, respectively. The huge advantage of this micromechanical model is reduction in amount of experimental test. Results from presented model show good agreement with experimental result presented by other researchers on cross-ply laminated composite plates.