Analysis of Failure in Fiber Polymer Laminates The Theory of Alfred Puck [Paperback]

Written by Puck's pupil and appointed successor Martin Knops, this book presents Alfred Puck?s failure model, which, among several other theories, predicts fracture limits best and describes the failure phenomena in FRP most realistically  as confirmed within the World-wide Failure Exercise . Using Puck?s model the composite engineer can follow the gradual failure process in a laminate and deduce from the results of the analysis how to improve the laminate design.

Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) are widely used for the design of load-bearing structures. Life time prediction based on failure analysis is therefore essential for many applications in Aeronautics, Automotive and Civil Engineering. Analysis of Failure in Fiber Polymer Laminates presents Alfred Puck?s failure model, which, among several other theories, predicts fracture limits best and describes the failure phenomena in FRP most realistically  as confirmed within the World-wide Failure Exercise. Using Puck?s model the composite engineer can follow the gradual failure process in a laminate and deduce from the results of the analysis how to improve the laminate design. This capability distinguishes the model from other phenomenological and global models. It thus reduces the number of required component tests and iteration loops in the design process and paves the way to sorely needed software for crash-simulation of FRP-structures.

This book presents for the first time comprehensively the Theory of Alfred Puck on failure in Fiber Polymer Laminates. After a brief introduction into the failure analysis of laminates and its history, the text focuses first on Pucks fracture criteria and lƒ