Laminate Delamination Due to Thermal Gradients

Flaw-induced delamination of orthotropic laminates subject to through-thickness temperature gradients is analyzed. A crack-like flaw impedes heat flow through the laminate, producing thermal stresses and crack tip stress intensities. The focus is on delamination cracks which propagate under steady-state conditions. The steady-state analysis becomes accurate for a crack whose length is about one laminate thickness. Moreover, the analysis provides realistic fail-safe criteria for excluding delamination.