A simplified beam analysis of the end notched flexure mode II delamination specimen

A modified classical beam theory solution is developed for the end notched flexure (ENF) specimen, one of the most widely used mode II delamination tests for fibre reinforced composite materials. The effect of crack tip deformation is analyzed by assuming that a region of certain length close to the crack tip rests on an elastic shear spring foundation. The mathematical procedure of the present analysis is simple and clear, and the resulting solutions for the compliance and the strain energy release rate of the ENF specimen are highly accurate. Excellent agreement is obtained over a wide range of material and geometrical properties of ENF specimens when the current results are compared with finite element results and other analytical analyses that include the effect of crack tip deformation in their solutions. The success of the present analysis indicates that the effect of crack tip deformation is the most important factor that must be considered when calculating the relationship between G I I and the load in the ENF specimen. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.