XFEM for Fracture Analysis of Centrally Cracked Laminated Plates Subjected to Biaxial Loads

In the present study, fracture response of centrally cracked symmetric angle ply laminated composite plates subjected to biaxially applied tensile, shear and tensile and shear combined stresses by implementing well established extended finite element method (XFEM) are studied. Typical numerical results are presented in terms of mixed mode stress intensity factors (MSIFs) to examine the effects of, different biaxial load factors, crack angles, crack lengths, the eccentricity of the crack in X and or Y directions and fiber angle under the action of different types of biaxial stresses. The effect of loadings on the crack growth and crack propagation direction and their effects on the MSIFs using global tracking crack growth algorithm is also presented. The results of the present investigation will be useful for accurate prediction of fracture response of cracked composite structures, crack growth and crack propagation behavior which ultimately effects on the structural safety and integrity of the composite structures