An interface element for modelling the onset and growth of mixed-mode cracking in aluminium and fibre metal laminates

In the present contribution an interface crack model is introduced which is capable of modelling crack initialisation and growth in aluminium as well as in Fibre Metal Laminates. Interface elements are inserted in a finite element mesh with a yield function which bounds all states of stress in the interface, Hardening occurs after a state of stress exceeds the yield stress of the material. The hardening branch is bounded by the ultimate stress of the material. Thereafter, the state of stress is reduced to zero while the inelastic deformations grow. The energy dissipated by the inelastic deformations in this process equals the fracture energy of the material. The model is applied to calculate the onset and growth Of cracking in centre cracked plates made of aluminium and GLARE(R). The impact of the model parameters on the performance of the crack model is studied by comparisons of the numerical results with experimental data.