In most cases, because of the complexity of internal stresses and the variety of failure modes that can occur in this specimen, it is not generally possible to relate the short-beam strength to any one material property. However, failures are normally dominated by resin and interlaminar properties, and the test results have been found to be repeatable for a given specimen geometry, material system, and stacking sequence (4).

Short-beam strength determined by this test method can be used for quality control and process specification purposes. It can also be used for comparative testing of composite materials, provided that failures occur consistently in the same mode (5).

This test method is not limited to specimens within the range specified in Section 8, but is limited to the use of a loading span length-to-specimen thickness ratio of 4.0 and a minimum specimen thickness of 2.0 mm [0.08 in.].

1. Scope

1.1 This test method determines the short-beam strength of high-modulus fiber-reinforced composite materials. The specimen is a short beam machined from a curved or a flat laminate up to 6.00 mm [0.25 in.] thick. The beam is loaded in three-point bending.

1.2 Application of this test method is limited to continuous- or discontinuous-fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites, for which the elastic properties are balanced and symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement

D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics

D2584 Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins

D2734 Test Methods for Void Content of Reinforced Plastics

D3171 Test Methods for Constituent Content of Composite Materials

D3878 Terminology for Composite Materials

D5229/D5229M Test Method for Moisture Absorption Properties and Equilibrium Conditioning of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

D5687/D5687M Guide for Preparation of Flat Composite Panels with Processing Guidelines for Specimen Preparation

E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines

E6 Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Testing

E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials

E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or Process

E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods

E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics

E1309 Guide for Identification of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite Materials in Databases

E1434 Guide for Recording Mechanical Test Data of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Databases

E1471 Guide for Identification of Fibers, Fillers, and Core Materials in Computerized Material Property Databases

Keywords

composite materials; resin and interlaminar properties; short-beam strength;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 83.140.20 (Laminated sheets)

Citing ASTM Standards

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