Experimental Characterisation Framework for Laminate Free Edges by Digital Image Correlations and Validation of Numerical Predictions

This paper develops an accurate experimental framework to measure interlaminar strains on laminate free edges. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used with an ultra-fine speckle pattern and macro lens to resolve strain fields with a resolution of ∼ 15 µm, allowing for through-thickness deformation and strain mapping. Data analysis techniques are developed to denoise the strain field and discount the effect of random local fibre distribution. The major application of the framework is to validate numerical predictions, and it is demonstrated on angle-ply laminates over a range of ply orientations. A micropolar-based finite-element approach was compared to both a classical finite-element approach and the DIC-acquired interlaminar strain fields. Key improvements by the results include significantly overcoming the stark inconsistency of classical normal strains, and reducing the discrepancies of shear strains from 30 % to 3 ∼ 10 %. The outcomes can be extended to destructive failure analysis and the free-edge study of various other composite architectures.