Journal Published Online: 01 September 1994
Volume 22, Issue 5

Data Analysis Techniques for Impact Tests of Composite Materials

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

This paper discusses data analysis techniques for instrumented impact tests conducted on glass fiber composite materials. For this study, a drop weight tower has been instrumented with an accelerometer and computer data acquisition system. From the acceleration data obtained, load, energy, velocity, and displacement are calculated in a spreadsheet environment. The resulting data from multiple tests for each material type considered are then averaged producing average plots. The standard deviation is also calculated and plotted for the load data. These curves are then used to characterize the impact behavior of the material. Also introduced is a procedure by which results are normalized by all geometric parameters present in the impact test. This method provides for comparison of test data from three-point bend impact tests having differing geometric parameters.

Author Information

Svenson, AL
Information Dynamics, Inc., McLean, VA
Hargrave, MW
Federal Highway Administration, McLean, VA
Bank, LC
The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
Ye, BS
Federal Highway Administration, McLean, VA
Pages: 9
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JTE12660J
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE12660J