Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1466509 Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 2012 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

This work presents the mixed-mode II/III prestressed split-cantilever beam specimen for the fracture testing of composite materials. In accordance with the concept of prestressed composite beams one of the two fracture modes is provided by the prestressed state of the specimen, and the other one is increased up to fracture initiation by using a testing machine. The novel beam-like specimen is able to provide any combinations of the mode-II and mode-III ERRs. Data reduction is made by using the virtual crack-closure technique. The applicability and the limitations of the novel fracture mechanical test are demonstrated using unidirectional glass/polyester composite specimens. If only crack propagation onset is involved then the mixed-mode beam specimen can be used to obtain the fracture criterion of transparent composite materials in the GII–GIII plane in a relatively simple way.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Materials Science Ceramics and Composites
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