Thoughts on the scatter seen in cyclic Mode I fatigue delamination growth in DCB tests

This paper discusses the potential of the Hartmann-Schijve variant of the NASGRO equation to capture the scatter seen in cyclic Mode I fatigue delamination tests on carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites (CFRP). Two different studies are analysed and the results suggest that this approach may be useful for representing the scatter (variability) seen in Mode I delamination propagation. As such it is hypothesised that this formulation may be useful in performing the slow growth analysis required by the US Federal Aviation Authority for the certification of composite aircraft structures.