Mechanical Testing of Advanced Fibre Composites

To design a structure or component one must carefully consider the intimate relationship between how the component is supposed to perform and the properties of the material from which it is made. This can be a tricky balancing act, even with isotropic, homogeneous materials. By their very nature, composite materials can present complex problems in the testing of their structural performance. Focusing on composites of advanced fibres in a plastic matrix, Mechanical Testing of Advanced Fibre Composites provides the background and general principles to tackle such problems. Expert contributors examine how these materials react to all types of loading, including tensile, compressive, shear, short- or long-term, and in various environments that might significantly modify their behavior. They explore sample preparation for testing, address tensile, flexural, compression, shear, impact, and out-of-plane testing, and discuss fatigue and fracture mechanics. Bringing together a wide range of test methods applicable across the spectrum of composite materials, Mechanical Testing of Advanced Fibre Composites forms a practical handbook full of expert analysis. Materials scientists, engineers, and designers will all find it a valuable tool in understanding and using composites in creating structures that perform within their design requirements.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION, John Hodgkinson GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND PERSPECTIVES, Stan Turner Mechanical Testing in Perspective The Formal Framework for Mechanical Test Methods Special Features of the Mechanical Testing of Composites The Nature and Quality of Test Data Mechanical Tests for Long Fibre Composites Concluding Comments Supplementary Reading SPECIMEN PREPARATION, F.L. Matthews Laminate Production Quality Checking Specimen Manufacture Strain Gauging TENSION, E.W. Godwin Testing Equipment Specimen Details Test Procedure Data Reduction Material and Sample Preparation Practical Example Future Developments COMPRESSION, F.L. Matthews Introduction Types of Tests Standards Specimen Preparation Specimen Configurations Execution and Problems Typical Results SHEAR, W.R. Broughton Test Methods Summary of Test Methods Comparison of Data Recommendations and Concluding Remarks FLEXURE, John Hodgkinson Three- and Four-Point Flexure Tests Comparison of Recommended Test Methods Failure Modes Typical Data Steel versus Soft Lined Rollers Through-Thickness Flexure THROUGH-THICKNESS TESTING, W.R. Broughton General Issues Tensile Test Methods Compression Test Methods Shear Test Methods Concluding Remarks INTERLAMINAR FRACTURE TOUGHNESS, Paul Robinson and John Hodgkinson Terminology and Typical Values Overview of Test Methods and Standards Mode I Testing Mode II Testing Mixed Mode I/II Multi-Direction Laminates IMPACT AND DAMAGE TOLERANCE, P. Hogg and G.A. Gibo Introduction Impact Testing Damage Tolerance-Compression after Impact Tests The Boeing Test Methods and Related Variants Data Interpretation Standardization Status Future Trends FATIGUE, P.T. Curtis Basic Test Philosophy Machines and Control Modes Presentation of Data Monitoring Fatigue Damage Growth Potential Problems Fatigue Life Prediction Post-Fatigue Residual Strength References ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING OF ORGANIC MATRIX COMPOSITES, G. Pritchard Why Environmental Testing? Environmental Threats to Composites Standard Tests Sample Conditioning Experimental Approaches Determination of Sorbtion Behaviour Lowering of Tg by Absorbed Liquids How do Composites Perform in Adverse Environments? Diffusion of Liquids into Composties Classification of Absorption Categories Edge Corrections SCALING EFFECTS IN LAMINATED COMPOSITES, P.T. Soutis Background Investigation of Failure Practical Application Examples Specialized-Scaling Techniques in Composites STATISTICAL MODELLING AND TESTING OF DATA VARIABILITY, L.C. Wolstenholme Introduction The Importance of Looking at Data Plots Basic Statistics Distribution of Sample Statistics Testing for Differences Between Samples Comparing Several Samples Simultaneously A General Linear Model (GLM) DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF STANDARD TEST METHODS Development of Test Methods Validation of Test Methods Sources of Standards and Test Methods Harmonization of Composite Test Methods Recommended Mechanical Test Methods Bibliography-Selected ISO Standards Appendix: Contact Details for Standards Organizations Chapters also contain introductions, summaries, concluding remarks, and references.