Fluid diffusion in cracked composite laminates – Analytical, numerical and experimental study

Composite structural components are often subjected to service loads that cause cracks in off-axis layers, without compromising the load bearing capability of the structure. In marine or humid environments fluid ingress in the material can be accelerated by the presence of such cracks, leading to further strength degradation. Several studies have been dealing with the effect of cracks on fluid diffusion in composites, sometimes with contradictory results. In this work the difference between cracks on the external and internal plies of the laminate has been addressed both experimentally and analytically, showing that the first ones have a strong influence on diffusivity, while the second have a negligible effect.