The problems associated with the testing of fibre reinforced polymer composites arise because of the anisotropic and inhomogeneous nature of the material. The nature of these problems, the approach historically which has been taken to overcome some of them and the current situation with regard to tests and standards are discussed. The effect on test data of specimen design, composite fabrication, test method and the environmental history of the material, are discussed and experimental data taken from the author's own research is used to illustrate the influence of some of these factors.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ChamisC.C.‘Test Methods and Design Allowables for Fibrous Composites’. ASTM Special Technical Publication 1003, Vol. 2, 1989.
2.
TurnerS.‘Mechanical Testing of Plastics’, Pub. George Godwin, 2nd Ed., 1983.
3.
Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Unidirectional or Crossply Fibre-Resin Composites. ASTM D 3410, 1987.
4.
BergJ.S. & AdamsD.F.‘An Evaluation of Composite Material Compression Test Methods’. J. Composites Technology & Research, Vol. 11, No. 2, Summer 1989, 41.
5.
HarperJ.F. & HeumannT.O.‘Failure Mechanisms in Uniaxial Compression of Fibre Composites’. Proc. 4th International Conference on Fibre Reinforced Composites '90. Liverpool, March 1990. Pub. Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
6.
HarperJ.F. & NaeemM.‘The Influence of Moisture Absorption on the Mechanical Properties of Glass-epoxy Pre-impregnated Composite’. Proc. Composites-89, Paris, June 1989. Pub. Institut Industriel de Transfert de Technologie.
7.
HarperJ.F. & HeumannT.O.‘The Strain Dependence of Elastic Modulus in Unidirectional Composites’. Composites Evaluation. Ed. HerriotJ.. Pub. Butterworth1987.
HarperJ.F. & NaeemM.‘A Comparative Study of the Effect of Moisture Absorption on the Mechanical Properties of Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic’. Proc. Third Int. Con. on Composite Interfaces. Cleveland, USA, May 1990. Pub. ASM International.
10.
EwinsP.D.‘Techniques for Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials’, Conf. Standards, Testing and Design. NPL, 1974, Pub. IPC Press.
DootsonM.‘The Development of Unidirectional cfrp Test Specimens’. British Aircraft Corp. Report No. SOR(P)88, 1973.
13.
ChamisC.C.‘Test Methods and Design Allowables for Fibrous Composites’, ASTM STP.734, 1981.
14.
SturgeonJ.B.‘Specimens and Test Methods for Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics’, RAE Technical Report 71026, 1971.
15.
HancoxN.L.‘The Compression Strength of Unidirectional cfrp’. Conf. Standards, Testing and Design, NPL 1974, Pub. IPC Press.
16.
WoolstencroftD.H., CurtisA.R. & HarescoughR.I.‘A Comparison of Test Techniques Used in the Evaluation of the Unidirectional Compressive Strength of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics’. Composites, Oct. 1981.
17.
CollingsT.A. & EwinsP.D.‘Tensile and Compressive Strength Measurements on Some Unidirectional Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics’. RAE Technical Report 72063 (1972).
18.
ChaitR. and PapirnoR. Editors, ‘Compression Testing of Homogeneous Materials and Composites’. ASTM Special Technical Publication 808, 1983.
19.
WhitneyJ.M. Editor, ‘Composite Materials, Testing and Design’. ASTM Special Technical Publication 893, 1986.
20.
CurtisP.T.‘CRAG Test Methods for the Measurement of the Engineering Properties of Fibre Reinforced Plastics’. Royal Aircraft Establishment Technical Report 88012, Feb. 1988.
