  In this contribution a method is introduced that allows for a linkage between
the process-induced structural damage and the fracture behaviour. Based on an
anisotropic elastic material model, different modelling approaches for initial
damage effects are introduced and compared. The approaches are applied to
remote laser cut carbon fibre reinforced polymers in order to model various
thermally induced damage effects like chemical decomposition, micro-cracks and
delamination. The dimensions of this heat affected zone are calculated with
1D-heat conduction. In experiment and simulation milled and laser cut specimens
with different process parameters are compared in order to quantify the impact
of the cutting technology on the fracture behaviour. For this purpose open hole
specimens were used.
