Design for a cruciform coupon used for tensile biaxial transverse tests on composite materials

This paper focuses on the design of the appropriate geometry for cruciform coupons conceived to be tested under tensile biaxial transverse loads. To this end, Finite Element models were developed and their results were used to propose a geometry which minimizes undesirable effects such as stress concentrations, develops a uniform state of biaxial stresses in the central zone of the coupon and assures that the failure takes place at this zone. The experimental results confirm the validity of the numerical models.