Numerical and experimental analysis of delamination in the T-stiffener integrated composite structure

ABSTRACTIn this article, two kinds of cohesive zone models (CZMs; exponential and bilinear) are used to evaluate the delamination behaviors of a composite T-stiffener integrated structure. First, based on the analysis of the bilinear CZM using maximum nominal stress damage initiation criterion and power law energy criterion, both the macroscopic mechanical response and the failure process are predicted, which analyzed the influences of the various cohesive zone parameters on the failure load and the damage patterns. Second, both the strength and the fracture characterizations about various T-stiffener integrated composite structures are studied in the experiment, which have a good agreement between the numerical result and the experimental data. Finally, the relationships among the failure load and the thickness of the skin, and the clamp distance are established; also, the energy release rates of the T-stiffeners for the failure process are predicted. These results will play an important role for designi...