the effect of delamination between layers in u-shaped members made of functionally graded multilayered viscoelastic materials

This theoretical work deals with delamination in u-shaped load-carrying structural members. the latter represent multilayered functionally graded systems of non-linear viscoelastic behaviour. the right-hand vertical part of the structure under consideration is delaminated. the structure is clamped in the lower end of the left-hand vertical part. besides, the structure is supported by a rotational spring which has non-linear elastic behaviour. the strain energy release rate is derived by using an approach that is based on analysis of equilibrium of the various components of the u-shaped structure. the solution derived is checked-up by applying the method of the integral j. the dependence of the strain energy release rate on different parameters is studied and presented in form of various graphs. analysis of a u-shaped structural member with two rotational spring supports also is carried-out and the strain energy release rate obtained is compared with that in the u-shaped structure with one rotational spring support.