Analysis of composite laminates containing through-the-width and embedded delamination under bending using layerwise HSDT.

The effects of different boundary conditions on the composite laminate containing embedded and through-the-width delamination under bending load are investigated analytically based on a developed Layerwise Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory (LHSDT) and the results are compared with the three-dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM). Contact energy has been calculated. The results demonstrate the ability of the presented method of predicting the displacement fields of a composite laminate containing delamination and obtaining stress-strain curves in bending condition. Moreover, strain energy release rate can be achieved using the obtained displacements to evaluate the initiation of delamination propagation around the boundaries of the considered delaminated region. Furthermore, the failure of the laminate will be predicted using conventional theories such as Tsai-Wu. • The effects of boundary conditions on a composite laminate containing delaminations under bending load are investigated. • The results of LHSDT are compared with the three-dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM). • The results demonstrate the ability of the method of predicting the displacement fields of a laminate containing delamination. • The failure of the laminate is predicted using conventional theories such as Tsai-Wu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]