ISSN: 0884-6804
CODEN: JCTRER
Page Count: 5

Influence of Test Fixture Configuration on the Measured Compressive Strength of a Composite Material
Adams, DF
Professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Composite Materials Research Group, and Ph.D. graduate student, University of Wyoming, Composite Materials Research Group, WY

Odom, EM
Professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Composite Materials Research Group, and Ph.D. graduate student, University of Wyoming, Composite Materials Research Group, WY

Abstract

Three compression test fixtures, the IITRI (Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute), Wyoming-Modified Celanese, and Wyoming-Modified IITRI fixtures, are directly compared by testing Hercules AS4/3501-6 carbon/epoxy unidirectional composites in axial compression. The principal characteristics of each fixture are described, and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed. It is demonstrated that, if proper fixtures and test procedures are used, all three test fixture configurations produce equivalent results for both axial compressive strength and modulus.

Keywords:
compression testing, test methods, unidirectional composites, carbon/epoxy composites

Paper ID: CTR10072J
DOI: 10.1520/CTR10072J
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