Fusion-based damage diagnostics for stiffened composite panels

Conducting damage diagnostics on stiffened panels is commonly performed using a single SHM technique. However, each SHM technique has both its strengths and limitations. Rather than straining the expansion of single SHM techniques going beyond their intrinsic capacities, these strengths and limitations should instead be considered in their...

On the relationship between disbond growth and the release of strain energy

Current prediction methods for growth of disbonds under fatigue loading are generally based on a correlation with either the maximum strain energy release rate (SERR) or the SERR range. This paper highlights some issues with this approach. In particular, it is argued that the maximum SERR or the SERR range alone do not give sufficient...

Towards Understanding Fatigue Disbond Growth via Cyclic Strain Energy

The concept of relating fatigue disbond growth to the strain energy release rate (SERR) is critically examined. It is highlighted that the common practise of using only the maximum SERR or only the SERR range is insufficient to correctly characterize a load cycle. As crack growth requires energy, it is argued that growth should be related to the...

Methods for the prediction of fatigue delamination growth in composites and adhesive bonds: A critical review

An overview is given of the development of methods for the prediction of fatigue driven delamination growth over the past 40 years. Four categories of methods are identified: stress/strain-based models, fracture mechanics based models, cohesive-zone models, and models using the extended finite element method. It is highlighted that most models...