Causes of Bending in the Wyoming Combined Loading Compression (CLC) Test Method

摘要

A parametric study revealed that specimen quality, load train alignment, and fixture dimensional tolerances all have a large effect on the amount of bending in the specimen during a compression test. Based on experimental observations, recommendations to minimize the amount of specimen bending were developed. rnA comparison of the 0°-ply compressive strengths from specimens with less than 10% bending at failure to those having more than 10% bending at failure revealed that bending did not influence the measured compressive strengths. This appeared to be the case even for very high levels of bending, as much as 40% bending at failure. In fact, bending did not influence the measured compressive strengths unless the specimens failed prematurely due to gross Euler buckling. A theory was developed to explain this phenomenon and recommendations are given.