The Yeh-Stratton Criterion for Stress Concentrations in Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Yeh-Stratton Failure Criterion with the stress concentrations in fiber-reinforced composites materials under tensile loadings. The Yeh-Stratton Failure Criterion developed from the initial yielding of materials is based on a macromechanics point of view. To investigate this criterion, the influence of the material anisotropic properties and the far field loading on the composite materials with a central hole or a normal crack were studied. Special emphasis was placed on definng of the crack tip stress field and their applications.The study of the Yeh-Stratton criterion for damage zone stress field on fiber-reinforced composites under tensile loadings was compared with several other fracture criteria, including the Tasi-Wu Theory, the Hoffman Theory, the Fischer Criterion, and the Cowin Criterion. The theoretical predictions from these criteria are examined by experimental results.