Partial hybrid finite element analysis of stress fields in composite laminates with delamination crack under out-of-plane loading

A global/local approach using partial hybrid elements is presented to study the interlaminar stress distribution around delamination crack tips in composite laminates subjected to out-of-plane loading. The results show that the global/local approach yields accurate solutions with much less active degrees of freedom, less consumption of computer space and CPU time as compared with the conventional displacement element. Experiments are performed for cross-ply laminates with midplane delamination crack subjected to three-point bending. The predicted critical loads by finite element analysis based on a strength-based criterion are in good agreement with the experimental data.