SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1990
STP24122S

Investigation of Damage in Composite Laminates Using the Incremental Strain Test

Source

A new test method, named the incremental strain test (IST), is introduced. In the IST a composite laminate is subjected to an “interrupted-ramp strain input,” allowing for load relaxation to occur at each increment of applied constant strain. The magnitude of this relaxation reflects the change of laminate compliance caused by the inception of time-dependent damage or viscoelastic creep. A variable quantifying the load relaxation, when plotted as a discrete function of applied strain, gives a unique indicationof damage onset, duration, and degree. Such plots are obtained for a quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy laminate with and without interlayers. IST results are positively correlated with the results of X-ray radiography and acoustic emission. Ultimately, the IST is seen as a potential tool in the investigation of damage development in composite laminates.

Author Information

Swain, RE
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Reifsnider, KL
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Vittoser, J
Armament Development Authority, Haifa, Israel
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: D30
Pages: 390–403
DOI: 10.1520/STP24122S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5120-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1287-2