A coupled contact and decohesion analysis of laminated beams

The problem of interface decohesion in laminated beams is addressed with reference to the double cantilever beam (DCB) geometry. The paper deals with the analysis of the influence of non-uniform bonding properties or interfacial defects on the crack propagation process and its stability. In spite of the relative simplicity of the considered case study, which is under pure Mode I deformation, a contact problem takes place due to the decohesion. The occurrence of contact makes the problem highly non-linear, since the extension of the contact area is a priori unknown. The finite element method with a generalized interface constitutive law is used to enforce the contact constraint along the interface and to model the progress of the delamination process.