Stress ratio dependence of fiber bridging significance in mode I fatigue delamination growth of composite laminates

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate stress ratio effect on fibre bridging significance in mode I fatigue delamination growth of composite materials. Fatigue resistance curves (R-curves) of different stress ratios are determined and compared with the quasi-static R-curve. The fatigue R-curve of a high stress ratio is similar to the quasi-static results. However, fatigue resistance of a low stress ratio is smaller than quasi-static resistance. These indicate that fibre bridging significance is stress ratio dependent. More bridging fibres can be generated in delamination of a high stress ratio, as compared to that of a low stress ratio. This can lead to fatigue bridging laws are stress ratio dependent and fatigue delamination is block load sequence dependent.