Non-equilibrium statistical aspects of fatigue structure of epoxy matrix composites

The present study of the statistical aspects of fatigue fracture in fiber-reinforced composite laminates within the framework of statistical fracture theory derives an equation for the evolution of microcracks. Attention is given to the general behaviors associated with microcrack nucleation and growth. The crack density distribution function, fracture probability, and S-N relation reliability for composites are obtained, qualitative agreement is established between theoretical and experimental results. (AIAA)