MIXED MODE TESTING OF WOVEN FABRIC POLYMER COMPOSITES

摘要

The present work involves testing of UD, satin and plain weave E-glass epoxy composites under mixed mode loading conditions and correlating the critical strain energy release rate of the materials with their physical characteristics. It was found that fracture initiation and growth is a multi-stage process for fabric composites. The unique aspects of fabric fracture formation require a re-consideration of the load at which a meaningful value for the critical strain energy release rate should be calculated. The delamination of satin weave composites was determined to be sensitive to specimen orientation as delamination may occur along the predominately warp or weft ply face, depending on which face experiences compression during the test.