Numerical and experimental analysis of the interaction between two notches in carbon fibre laminates

This paper presents the numerical and experimental investigation conducted on thin T300/epoxy carbon fibre laminates with multiple cutouts subjected to in-plane loads. Numerical and experimental analyses on the stress distribution around one central opening have been extensively presented in the literature. As a continuation of these studies the survey proceeds in this work with the analysis of the stress distribution in the area between two notches set in different configurations with respect to the load applied on carbon fibre laminated composites. The distance at which there is a minor or no interaction between the two discontinuities has been sought and it has found to be primarily dependent on the laminate lay-up and the diameter of the notch