Damage tolerance of composite aircraft structure is one of the main areas of research, important when a new product is being developed. There are a number of variables, such as damage characteristics (dent depth, delamination area) and loading parameters (load type, amplitude of cyclic loading, load sequence) that need to be investigated experimentally [1]. These tests of composite materials are usually performed at an element level and are carried out in order to validate the analytical model, developed to predict the full-scale componenta??s behaviour. The paper presents the results of compression testing of the [36/55/9] carbon fibre/epoxy laminate, manufactured with the Automated Fibre Placement technology (AFP) and subjected to static and fatigue loads. The laminate compression loading mode was achieved through sandwich 4-point flexure. At the stage of fatigue testing, two parameters were investigated: the damage size, simulated by the hole diameter and the fatigue load level. Based on the test results, the laminate fatigue load limit equal to 75% of the OHC failure load was evaluated. By collating the static and fatigue tests results, the damage tolerance characteristic of the considered laminate was created.
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