Multilayered viscoelastic beam loaded in torsion under strain-path control: A delamination analysis

This paper is focused on the delamination analysis of a multilayered beam structure loaded in torsion under strain-path control. The beam under consideration has a rectangular cross-section. The layers of the beam are made of different viscoelastic materials which exhibit continuous inhomogeneity in longitudinal direction. Since the delamination is located inside the beam structure, the torsion moments in the two crack arms are obtained by modeling the beam as an internally static undetermined structure. The strain energy stored in the beam is analyzed in order to derive the strain energy release rate (SERR). Since the delamination is located inside the beam, the delamination has two tips. Thus, solutions of the SERR are obtained for both tips. The solutions are verified by analyzing the beam compliance. Delamination analysis with bending-torsion coupling is also performed. The solutions derived are timedependent due to two factors. First, the beam has viscoelastic behavior and, second, the angle of twist of the beam-free end induced by the external torsion moment changes with time according to a law that is fixed in advance.