A Study of the Opening Displacement of Transverse Cracks in Cross-Ply Laminates

Transverse cracks in cross-ply laminates are investigated experimentally to reveal the essential characteristics of their opening displacement under tensile loads. The average crack opening displacement is studied as a function of the longitudinal overall strain and the effects of matrix toughness and transverse ply thickness on this parameter are examined. The interactive effects between closely spaced transverse cracks are also ex amined and found to be significant. Implications of the experimentally observed features on the micromechanics and continuum damage type models are discussed.