A detailed theoretical and experimental analysis of the rail shear test is presented. A Fourier series solution is obtained for the stresses in an idealized rail shear specimen. The theoretical results are quali tatively verified on fiber reinforced rubber composites. Rail shear data on the modulus and strength of current high-modulus rein forced composites is compared to predicted values obtained from lamination theory. Results show that, despite definite limitations, the rail shear test can be useful in the determination of the in-plane shear properties of a laminated composite.
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