ISSN: 0884-6804
Page Count: 6

The Effects of Radiation on the Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of a Graphite/Epoxy Composite
Sykes, GF
Materials engineer and research scientist, NASA Langley Research Center, VA

Funk, JG
Materials engineer and research scientist, NASA Langley Research Center, VA

Abstract

The effects of electron radiation on the interlaminar fracture toughness of a graphite/epoxy (T300/934) composite were investigated using the double cantilever beam (DCB) test to determine the Mode I critical strain energy release rate G^Ic and the edge delamination tension (EDT) test to determine the mixed Mode I and II critical strain energy release rate G^c. The effects of test temperature on the G^c of both the nonirradiated and irradiated material were determined. A miniature DCB and EDT test specimen was developed, and the results from the miniature specimens were compared with those from standard DCB and EDT test specimen geometries.

This study showed that test temperature had a significant influence on the interlaminar fracture toughness of both the nonirradiated and irradiated material. The interlaminar fracture toughness of the composite material was enhanced with radiation exposure. Dynamic mechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy data suggested that the increased fracture toughness of the composite following irradiation could be attributed to radiation-induced matrix property changes.

Keywords:
interlaminar fracture toughness, radiation effects, graphite/epoxy, specimen geometry, critical strain energy release rates

Paper ID: CTR10328J
DOI: 10.1520/CTR10328J
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