3D reinforcement and delamination resistance

Delamination is the most critical damage mode for composite laminates. Many studies have been carried out on assemblies made with two-dimensional fabrics. Even after optimisation, these assemblies do not meet the requirements for severe stresses from blast effect, failing too easily due to delamination between two plies of 2D fabric. The present study deals with two aspects: 1) optimising the material properties of textile preform assemblies for shipbuilding applications through the use of stitched solutions for better delamination resistance; and 2) developing a numerical model based on cohesive zone mechanics that is capable of describing the delamination process. The study was carried out in quasi-static conditions and the model implemented in the form of a subroutine within an implicit finite element code.