Interlaminar delamination fracture and fatigue of woven glass fiber reinforced polymer composite laminates at cryogenic temperatures

This chapter describes the results of our studies on the interlaminar delamination fracture and fatigue of woven glass fiber reinforced polymer composite laminates under Mode I, Mode II, and Mode III loadings at cryogenic temperatures. Delamination fracture tests were carried out at cryogenic temperatures, and the critical energy release rate at the onset of delamination propagation, i.e., fracture toughness, was evaluated based on a finite element analysis coupled with damage. In addition, cryogenic fatigue delamination tests were performed, in order to obtain the delamination growth rate as a function of the range of the energy release rate. After the tests, fractographic observations were made to assess the delamination mechanisms at cryogenic temperatures.