A survey of test methods for multiaxial and out-of-plane strength of composite laminates

Robin Olsson

This review paper gives an overview of test methods for multiaxial and out-of-plane strength of composite laminates, with special consideration of non-crimp fabrics (NCF) and other textile systems. Tubular and cruciform specimens can provide arbitrary in-plane loading, while off-axis and angle-ply specimens provide specific biaxial loadings. Tensile and compressive out-of-plane strength may be determined by axial loading of specimens with a waisted gauge section, while bending of curved specimens allow determination of the out-of-plane tensile strength. Tests suited for out-of-plane shear strength include the short beam shear test, the inclined double notch test and the inclined waisted specimen. Testing of arbitrary tri-axial stress states using tubular or cruciform specimens with superimposed through-the-thickness loading is highly complex and significant problems have been reported in achieving the intended stress states and failure modes. Specific tri-axial stress states can be obtained by uniaxial loading of specimens with constrained expansion, as in the die channel test.

Mots clés: A: Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Structural composites; Textile composites; B: Strength; D: Multiaxial testing

Domaines: Matériaux

Robin Olsson. A survey of test methods for multiaxial and out-of-plane strength of composite laminates. Composites Science and Technology, 2011, 71 (6), pp.773. ⟨10.1016/j.compscitech.2011.01.022⟩. ⟨hal-00736295⟩