A Comparative Analytical study of Standard Composite Double Cantilever Beam using Virtual Crack Closure Technique and Cohesive Zone Modelling method

Double cantilever beam specimens made up of Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer laminate (CFRP) and Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) laminate were modelled, analysed and their fracture parameters were evaluated using Abaqus-Standard. For the quasi-isotropic specimens, load-displacement responses were computed by varying tensile loads using Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT) and Cohesive Zone Modelling (CZM) method. From the results, it was seenthat modelling effort and computational-time required were quite higher in CZM method. Onset of delamination for both specimens were studied using VCCT after computing energy release rates. Also, the delamination pattern onset was found comparable in both the materials with delay of initiation in GFRP laminate specimen.