Prediction of the location of delamination in the drilling of composite laminates

An analytical approach for the determination of the position of the onset of delamination during the drilling of composite laminates based on linear elastic fracture mechanics is presented in this paper. The critical thrust force calculated from the predicted position of the onset of delamination has a reasonable agreement with experimental results obtained in the drilling of T300/5208 graphite epoxy composite laminates reported in the literature. Thus, the analytical method developed in the present study may be applied to the drilling of composite laminates drilling with the avoidance of delamination.