An investigation of stiffness reduction as an indicator of fatigue damage in graphite epoxy composites

This investigation concerns the validity and feasibility of using moduli reduction to monitor the effect of fatigue damage in graphite epoxy composites. Five laminate orientations were considered, [O]₄, [90]₄, [±45]_s, [0,90]_s, [0,90,±45]_s, and four inplane-stiffness properties were monitored for each. The stiffness parameters were E_xx, E_yy, G_xy, and v_xy, and were measured using a longitudinal tension test, a rail shear test and a transverse bend test. Nondestructive testing techniques such as C-scan and edge replication were also performed to aid in the observation of damage development. Results describe the response of each laminate orientation in tension-tension fatigue, including a record of changes in the stiffness properties at intervals during fatigue. Longitudinal stiffness (E_xx) and shear stiffness (G_xy) were shown to significantly decrease for the [0,90,±45]_s, laminate following fatigue loading. The inplane stiffness properties for the other four laminates remain essentially unchanged following fatigue loading. Matrix cracking and delamination appears to contribute to the stiffness reductions that occur in the [0,90,±45]_s laminate.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering Science and Mechanics

Department dc:contributor.department

Engineering Science and Mechanics

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1980

Author dc:creator

• Camponeschi, Eugene Thomas

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/71007

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/71007