Analisys of the fatigue properties of different specimens of a 10% by weight short glass fibre reinforced polyamide 6.6

The fatigue behavior of a short fibre reinforced polyamide was investigated using small specimens, as part of a larger study of the fatigue damage phenomena in this material using micro computed tomography techniques. These techniques require very small specimens, smaller than the usual specimens commonly used in industry. Therefore, preliminary investigations were conducted on the effect of the shape of the specimens on the tensile and fatigue properties. Standard small ASTM D 1822 specimens and larger ISO 527 specimens were used. The results are discussed in the light of cyclic behavior and of the evolution of the surface temperature during fatigue tests.