Experimental investigation on deformation and strength of carbon/epoxy laminated curved beams

Both the deformation and strength of carbon/epoxy laminated curved beams with variable curvature and thickness are studied experimentally using the Digital Speckle Correlation Method (DSCM) and a Four-Point-Bending test configuration. First, the relationships between the strain and the applied load on the curved beams with different thicknesses and different radius-thickness ratios are studied. Second, both the failure strength and the maximum interlaminar radial stresses of the curved beams are determined, and the distribution and evolution of full field strain in the laminated curved beams are obtained using DSCM. Finally, the interlaminar deformation and delamination mechanisms of carbon/epoxy laminated curved beams are analyzed. These results play an important role for predicting strength and evaluating lifetime of laminated curved beams.