In this study, cross-ply laminates with various thickness of transverse cracked layer are analyzed and tested for the evaluation of progressive transverse cracking and the onset of delamination induced by transverse cracks.
Shear-lag analysis, taking account of the parabolic crack opening displacement and linearly distributed through-the-thickness displacement, is performed for the evaluation of stress distribution in the layer. This method represents well characteristics of the stress distribution compared with FEM. In the evaluation of crack multiplication, the effect of thermal residual stress, which reduced as the transverse crack progresses, is neglected. The reduction-effect of thermal residual stress increased as the thickness of 90˚ layer become larger. The prediction based on strength criterion underestimates stress of the delamination onset compared with experiment. In the experiment, many small cracks and inclined cracks are generated and progressed as 90˚ layer become larger.
