Control of cracks by interfaces in composites

Abstract

A novel theory is proposed to show how a crack may he accelerated or retarded when it meets an interface between two equally brittle materials of different elastic properties. Measurements of a model crack travelling through a brittle adhesive joint have substantially verified the theory. The results demonstrate that the toughness of a composite material, having a periodic stiffness change along the crack path, may be very much greater than the toughness of the individual components of the composite. The relevance of these ideas to the design of tough composite structures is discussed.