Tensile strength of multi-angle composite laminate scarf joints with FEM

Abstract

This study focus on the tensile strength of angle-ply composite laminate scarf joints and corresponding finite element modelling (FEM) methods. Tensile tests are performed at 25°C and 75°C on scarf joint specimens with unidirectional laminate stacking sequences. The joint tensile strength result values at 75°C represent around 86% of those obtained at 25°C. The tensile test is simulated with finite element modelling including cohesive elements to model failure. The joint adhesive film is represented either with only full thickness cohesive elements, or with thin or zero-thickness cohesive elements combined with solid elements having a plastic adhesive material model. Simulations results show that in the case of a unidirectional laminate, the adhesive modelling method had less than 1% effect on the simulated tensile failure strength. For quasi-isotropic laminates with a given ply angle count but of varying ply order, the simulated tensile failure strength varies up to 15%, which confirms tendencies reported in the literature. ? Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.