Broughton, W R; Lodeiro, M J (2000) Cyclic fatigue of continuous unidirectional polymer matrix composites. NPL Report. CMMT(A)249

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Abstract

Test methods have been developed within the Composites Performance and Design Project -Life Assessment and Prediction (CPD2) for characterising the tensile properties of fibre bundles and impregnated strands under static and cyclic loading conditions. Tests have been carried out on both glass-fibre and carbon-fibre reinforced systems in order to evaluate the suitability of the test methods for accelerating testing and for generating cyclic fatigue data. This report provides an assessment of the test methods and the data generated using these techniques under static and cyclic loading conditions. Effects of strain rate, gauge-length and diameter on the tensile properties of composite rods have been included in the report along with the results from a comparative study carried out on narrow (i.e. 3 mm wide) and standard (i.e. 15 mm wide) unidirectional laminates to assess scaling effects.
The principal conclusions that can be drawn from the results are: (i) glass-fibre and carbon-fibre bundles, and continuous aligned carbon fibre-reinforced laminates have excellent fatigue resistance at loads approaching the tensile strengths for these materials; (ii) fatigue performance of small diameter glass fibre-reinforced rods and narrow unidirectional laminates is poor in comparison with the standard test specimen geometry; and (iii) the current standard for preparation and testing of composite rods requires revision to accommodate the determination of tensile strength. The report includes recommendations on preparation and testing of fibre bundles and composite rods.

Item Type:	Report/Guide (NPL Report)
NPL Report No.:	CMMT(A)249
Subjects:	Advanced Materials Advanced Materials > Composites Advanced Materials > Polymers
Last Modified:	02 Feb 2018 13:17
URI:	http://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/1586

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