Study of asymmetric glass reinforced plastic beams in off-axis four-point bending

This study deals with the computational study of asymmetric glass reinforced plastic beams in off-axis four-point bending and the comparison of the induced results with experimental and analytical results. The measurement of the interlaminar shear strength of composite beams, an important design variable in many applications, may be successfully performed by the asymmetric bending test. A three-dimensional finite element analysis is adopted throughout the composite beams in order to, on the one hand, correlate with the experimental results and, on the other hand, to obtain the stress distributions at the supports and at the loading points where usually there is an abrupt variation due to the indentation existing because of the noses. From the finite element analysis and the experimental investigation possible crack initiation positions are determined.