Short beam shear damage analysis of GLARE laminates based on digital image correlation and finite element analysis

The short beam shear performance of GLARE 3A-3/2 laminates with adhesive layers was investigated by combining the short beam test and the digital image correlation technique. The failure behavior was further analyzed based on finite element simulation and micro failure morphology. The results show an 8% and 58% difference in the short beam strength and bending displacement at failure of laminates along two orthogonal directions; The damage behavior of laminates is determined by the bottom unidirectional glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) layers. The two typical failure modes are matrix and fiber fracture in the GFRP layer caused by local bending deformation, and interlaminar delamination between GFRP layers; The distribution of surface strain epsilon(y) indicates the damage initiation and evolution process. The simulation result of the finite element model established in ABAQUS/Explicit shows consistency with digital image correlation analysis, which provides an effective method to predict the damage behavior of specimens with different ply structures.