4. Conclusion

This paper presented fracture mechanics applied to translaminar failure of laminated composite structures. This phenomenon is particularly important in the certification/design of damage-tolerant composite structures.

After a brief review of the characteristic quantities of fracture mechanics, and in particular the associated critical energy restitution rates, the various tests used to characterize these quantities are critically described. This is followed by a detailed presentation of the different types of translaminar damage according to the type of loading (tension, compression, crushing and shear). Finally, some characteristic values of structural laminated composites are discussed.

This overview has shown that fracture mechanics applied to composite laminates is a complex and still recent field, which needs to be approached with caution....