SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1991
STP17715S

Effects of Moisture Absorption on Edge Delamination, Part II: An Experimental Study of Jet Fuel Absorption on Graphite-Epoxy

Source

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the environmental effects of jet fuel absorption on the mixed-mode fracture toughness Gc of AS4/3501-6 graphite-epoxy. Edge delamination tension tests of saturated and partially saturated (30/-302/30/90n)s (n = 1, n = 2), (35/-35/0/90)s and (35/0/-35/90)s layups were conducted. Three types of jet fuels were considered including JP-4 military jet fuel, Jet-A commercial jet fuel, and Type VII rubber swelling test fluid. Additional tests were conducted at the room temperature dry (RTD) and water soaked conditions. The water soaked specimens were also tested in the saturated and partially saturated conditions.

The total and the mixed-mode strain energy release rates were evaluated using a modified quasi-three-dimensional finite element (Q3DG) analysis. Edge delamination data of partially saturated and saturated specimens was used to quantify the relative influence of typical aircraft fluids on interlaminar fracture for composite materials. The effects of hygroscopic strain gradients on the interlaminar fracture toughness was investigated for the fluids considered.

Author Information

Hooper, SJ
The Wichita State University, Institute for Aviation Research, Wichita, KA
Subramanian, R
The Wichita State University, Institute for Aviation Research, Wichita, KA
Toubia, RF
The Wichita State University, Institute for Aviation Research, Wichita, KA
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Details
Developed by Committee: D30
Pages: 107–125
DOI: 10.1520/STP17715S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5169-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1419-7