The Effect of Test Conditions on the Fatigue Properties of a Phenolic Composite

Abstract

The paper reports experimental work carried out on a composite with a phenolic matrix and reinforced with glass fiber. The fatigue results were obtained on both unidirectional fiber composites and crossed fiber composites. For unidirectional fiber composites the two glass fiber treatments were investigated. All the fatigue tests were carried out on a mechanical fatigue machine equipped with frequency control and a furnace. The unidirectional composites were tested in the frequency range from 1.5 to 25 Hz and in the temperature range from 20 to 200°C. The crossed composites were tested in the frequency range from 2 to 20 Hz at 20°C. The paper discusses and draws conclusions about the fatigue damage in terms of variation of Young's modulus, the influence of the temperature and frequency on the fatigue strength and surface temperature variation during testing.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Forsdyke, K. L. 1982. "Development in the Applications Technology of Phenolic GPR," BPF 13th Reinf. Plast. Conf., Brigthon, pp. 1-10.

2. Mapleston, P. 1989. "Phenolic Composite Make a Strong Bid in High Heat Fire Safe Applications," Mod. Plast. Int., pp. 53-57, September.

3. Arinoud, J. 1989. "Metal Alternative Design with Moldable Phenolic Composites,"

Proc. 4th Conf. on Advanced Composites, MI:

ASM International, pp. 401-405, September 88.

4. Curtis, P. T. and G. Dorey . 1989. "Fatigue of Composite Materials," Proc. Int. Mech. Eng. G., J. Aerospace Eng., 203:31-37.

5. Talreja, R. 1990. "Fatigue of Composite Materials; Analysis Testing and Design," Proc. Seminar, Technomic Publishing, Basel, Switzerland, April.

6. Partridge, I. , P. Virlouvet , J. Chubb and P. Curtis . 1989. "Effect of Fibre Volume Fraction on Tensile Fatigue Behaviour of UD Glass/Epoxy Composite,"

Proc. Third Europ. Conf: on Composite Materials, ECCM3, "Developments in the Science and Technology of Composite Materials,"

Bordeaux, France, pp. 451-456, March.

7. Branco, C. M. , J. M. Ferreira , M. O. W. Richardson and P. Fael . 1992. "Fatigue Behaviour of a Phenolic Matrix Composite," Int. J. Fat., 14(6):367-376.

8. Branco, C. M. , K. Eichler and J. M. Ferreira . 1994. "Fatigue Behaviour of E-glass Fiber Reinforced Phenolic Composite," Fract. Mech. Tech., 20(2):75-84.

9. Oikawa. Y. 1991. "Fatigue Strength Phenolic Molding Material," J. Macromol. Sci.-Phis., B19(4):679-693.

10.

10. Pink, E. and J. D. Campbell . 1974. "Deformation Characteristics of Reinforced Epoxy Resins," Part. 1, The Mechanical Properties, J. Mat. Sci., 9:658-664.

11.

11. Sims, G. D. and D. G. Gladman . 1978. "Effect of Test Conditions on the Fatigue Strength of a Glass-Fabric Laminate: Part A—Frequency," Plast. and Rubber: Mat. And Appl., pp. 41-48.

12.

12. Sims, G. D. and D. G. Gladman . 1980. "Effect of Test Conditions on the Fatigue Strength of a Glass-Fabric Laminate: Part B—Specimen Condition," Plast. and Rubber: Mat. and Appl., pp. 122-128.

13.

13. Ellyin, F. and H. El-Kadi . 1990. "A Fatigue Failure Criterion for Fiber Reinforced Composite Laminae," Comp. Struct., 15:61-74.

14.

14. Spearing, M. and P. W. R. Beaumont . 1990. "The Fatigue Damage Mechanics of Carbon Fibre Composites," Proc. 8th European Conf. on Fracture, ECF8, Torino, Italy, Vol. 1 (EMAS, London), pp. 224-231.

15.

15. Spearing, M. , P. W. R. Beaumont and M. T. Kortschot . 1992. "The Fatigue Damage Mechanics of Notched Carbon Fibre PEEK Laminates," Composites, 23(5):305-309.

16.

16. Spearing, M. and P. W. R. Beaumont . 1992. "The Fatigue Damage Mechanics of Composite Materials, I: Experimental Measurement of Damage and Post-Fatigue Properties," Comp. Sci. Tech., 44:159-168.

17.

17. Branco, C. M. , J. M. Ferreira , P. Fael and M. O. W. Richardson . 1996. "A Comparative Study of the Fatigue Behaviour of GRP Hand Lay-Up and Pultruded Phenolic Composites," Int. J. Fat., 18(4):255-263.