Numerical analysis of stress singularities in composite materials

The stress field in the vicinity of singular points which occur at the interface of two anisotropic materials is investigated. The focus is on the development of computational procedures for the determination of those parameters of the stress field which control delamination phenomena in composite materials. The results presented herein provide for the computation of parameters of the stress field, which may serve as a basis for analytical/experimental treatment of delamination phenomena. Using p- and hp-extension procedures in finite element analysis, the accuracy and reliability may be ascertained. An example which is typical of current problems in the aerospace industry is presented.