Progression of Bending Fatigue Damage around a Discontinuity in Glass/Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The progression of bending fatigue damage around a discontinuity in spring orientation glass fiber reinforced epoxy was investigated. The specimens contained circular holes of two different hole diameter/specimen width ratios. Bending fatigue tests were performed by applying a constant maximum deflection at the end of the cantilever type specimen. The extent of delamination and internal cracking was observed using visual and scanning electron microscopy. The reduction in stiffness during fatigue cycling was linearly related to the total delamination size, independent of the maximum applied load. It was also determined that the relative size of the hole had no significant effect on the bending fatigue life.

Keywords

fatigue damage bending fatigue flexural fatigue fiberglass composite materials delamination.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Davis, J.W. , J.A. McCarthy and J.N. Schurb. 1964 Mater. Des. Eng , pp 87-91.

Sumsion, H.T. and D.P. Williams. 1975. Fatigue of Composite Materials, ASTM-STP 569, pp. 226-247

Cessna, L. , J. Levens and J. Thompson. 1969. SPI, 24th Annual Technical Conference , Washington, D.C., Section 1-C.

Lang, R.W. , J.A. Manson and R.W. Hertzberg. 1983. The Role of the Polymeric Matrix in the Processing and Structural Properties of Composite Materials , J. C. Seferis and L. Nicolais, eds. , New York, NY: Plenum Press, pp. 377-396.

Shalev, D. and K.L. Reifsnider . 1990. J. of Composite Materials , 24:42-71.

O'Brien, T.K. and K.L. Reifsnider 1981. J. of Composite Materials, 15.55-69.

Schulte, K. 1975. Mechanical Characterization of Load Bearing Fibre Composite Laminates, A H Cardon and G Verchery, eds. , New York, NY Elsevier Appl. Science Publ ., pp 36-54.

3M Technical Data Brochure for Type 1002 and Type 1003, 3M Structural Products Dept St. Paul, MN, 55144

Broutman, L.J. and S. Sahu 1969. SPI, 24th Annual Technical Conference , Washington, D.C. , Section I-C.

10.

Walsh, R.M., Jr. and R.B. Pipes 1983 The Role of the Polymeric Matrix m the Processing and Structural Properties of Composite Materials, J. C Sefens and L. Nicolais, eds., New York, NY: Plenum Press, pp. 587-606.

11.

Hwang, W. and K.S. Han. 1986. J. of Composite Materials , 20:125-151.