The use of interlayers in modeling interface crack propagation

Delaminations are a common mode of failure at interfaces between two material layers which have dissimilar elastic constants. There is a well-known oscillatory nature to the singularity in the stress fields at the crack tips in these bimaterial delaminations, which creates a lack of convergence in the modewise energy release rates. This makes constructing fracture criteria somewhat difficult. An approach used to overcome this is to artificially insert a thin, homogeneous, isotropic layer (the interlayer) at the interface. The crack is positioned in the middle of this homogeneous interlayer, thus modifying the original ‘bare’ interface crack problem into a companion ‘interlayer’ crack problem. Individual modes I and II energy release rates are convergent and calculable for the companion problem and can be used in the construction of a fracture criterion or locus. However, the choices of interlayer elastic and geometric properties are not obvious. Moreover, a sound, consistent, and comprehensive methodology does not exist for utilizing interlayers in the construction and application of mixed-mode fracture criteria in interface fracture mechanics. These issues are addressed here. The role of interlayer elastic modulus and thickness is examined in the context of a standard interface fracture test specimen. With the help of a previously published analytical relation that relates the bare interface crack stress intensity factor to the corresponding interlayer crack stress intensity factor, a suitable thickness and elastic modulus are identified for the interlayer in a bimaterial four-point bend test specimen geometry. Interlayer properties are chosen to make the interlayer fracture problem equivalent to the bare interface fracture problem. A suitable mixed-mode phase angle and a form for the fracture criterion for interlayer-based interface fracture are defined. A scheme is outlined for the use of interlayers for predicting interface fracture in bimaterial systems such as laminated composites. Finally, a simple procedure is presented for converting existing bare interface crack fracture loci/criteria into corresponding interlayer crack fracture loci.