Thermodynamic analysis of fatigue failure in a composite laminate

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2012

Abstract

We put forward a thermodynamic approach for analyzing fatigue failure in a composite laminate. We show that fatigue is an irreversible progression of increasing entropy that accumulates until it reaches a critical value called the fracture fatigue entropy (FFE) at the onset of failure. Extensive series of fatigue tests are carried out that involve load-controlled tension-tension, and displacement controlled fully-reversed bending fatigue with three different stress ratios as well as constant- and variable-loading. The role of hysteresis energy in the entropy generation is investigated. FFE values are calculated based the experimental data obtained for temperature and hysteresis energy of a woven Glass/Epoxy (G10/FR4) laminate. The concept of tallying entropy accumulation and the use of FFE are useful for determining the fatigue life of composite laminates undergoing cyclic loading. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Mechanics of Materials

First Page

113

Last Page

122

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