Design-experimental analysis of strength of composite flange with a delamination defect

This paper presents the results of a computational and experimental study of the strength and rigidity of a composite flange with a defect in form of delamination. The locations of interlayer cracks at different loading levels are determined. It is shown that the L-shaped structurally similar element is destroyed by the delamination in the corner zone, without breaking the fibers of the layers with partial preservation of the bearing capacity. Based on the results of numerical simulation, stress and strain fields were obtained in and the strength of the structure was evaluated by the criterion of maximum stresses in layers. Analysis of stress fields showed that when testing flange samples, the most dangerous, determining the fracture initiation of the structure, are regular tensile interlayer stresses. The verification of the developed numerical model is carried out. (paper)