Development and application of an experimental system for the study of thin composites undergoing large deformations in combined bending–compression loading

To increase understanding of damage evolution in advanced composite material systems, stereo digital image correlation has been integrated with a compression–bending mechanical loading system to obtain full-field deformations on both compression and tension surfaces throughout the loading process. The integrated system is employed to simultaneously quantify full-field deformations along the length of the specimen. Specifically, the integrated system is employed to experimentally study the progressive failure behavior of thin, woven glass–epoxy composite specimens undergoing both cyclic and monotonic compression–bending loading resulting in large out-of-plane bending deformations with end conditions that allow free out-of-plane rotation. Experimental results obtained using the measurement system for specimens undergoing both linear and highly non-linear deformations during monotonic loading are presented. Results clearly show (a) the presence and magnitude of anticlastic (double) specimen curvature near mid-length for all fiber angles, (b) the distinct differences in the strain fields between the tension and compression surfaces at the critical location, (c) the corresponding disparity in local material failure mechanisms between the tension (e.g. matrix cracking) and compression (e.g. fiber buckling) surfaces in the critical regions and (d) the highly localized character of the strain fields, focused in regions of increased damage.