Experimental evaluation of geometric factors affecting damage mechanisms in carbon/epoxy plates

Zhou, G Lloyd, JC McGuirk, JJ

G. Zhou et al., Experimental evaluation of geometric factors affecting damage mechanisms in carbon/epoxy plates, COMPOS P A, 32(1), 2001, pp. 71-84

18

INGLESE

Article

Material Science & Engineering

COMPOSITES PART A-APPLIED SCIENCE AND MANUFACTURING

1359-835X → ACNP

32

1

2001

71 - 84

ISI

1359-835X(2001)32:1<71:EEOGFA>2.0.ZU;2-V

Experimental parametric studies have been carried out to investigate the ef fects of four geometric factors on the mechanical behaviour of thin carbon/ epoxy circular plates under quasi-static transverse loading. The geometric factors examined were two sizes and two nose shapes of indenters, two plate diameters and two boundary conditions. Generally, the effects have been fo und to be significantly coupled with one another so that none of the geomet ric factors could be ignored in an examination of mechanical behaviour. In particular, the nose shape of an indenter and the plate diameter were shown to have a greater influence on plate behaviour than the other two. Four ma jor failure modes were found to operate in these loaded plates. While certa in combinations of geometric factors promoted one type of failure mode, oth er combinations of the same factors favoured other types. Moreover, these f ailure modes were related to basic damage mechanisms only in a complex and collective manner. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.