A coupled contact and decohesion analysis of laminated beams

The problem of interface decohesion in laminated beams is addressed with refer- ence to the double cantilever beam (DCB) geometry. The paper deals with the analysis of the influence of non-uniform bonding properties or interfacial defects on the crack propagation process and its stability. In spite of the relative simplicity of the considered case study, which is under pure Mode I deformation, a contact problem takes place due to the decohesion. The occurrence of contact makes the problem highly non-linear, since the extension of the contact area is a priori unknown. The finite element method with a generalized interface constitutive law is used to enforce the contact constraint along the interface and to model the progress of the delamination process.