The Air Force Research Laboratory directed a research program to evaluate nine different composite progressive damage analysis methods under both quasi-static and fatigue loading. This paper describes the coupon tests that were performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory for calibration and validation of the methods under quasi-static conditions. The basic elastic and failure properties of unidirectional IM7/977-3 graphite/epoxy were first determined in order to properly calibrate the models. Validation tests were then performed on unnotched and open-hole coupons with three different laminate stacking sequences under both tension and compression loading conditions. This paper summarizes these experimental results and provides X-ray computed tomography images at subcritical load levels.

The Air Force Research Laboratory led a research effort to benchmark the accuracy of static and fatigue predictions of several emerging composite progressive damage analysis techniques. The static portion of this technical effort is described in detail in a previous special issue of the Journal of Composite Materials. This paper provides the details of the fatigue experiments that were conducted to calibrate and validate the computational models. Initially, in-plane and out-of-plane S–N curves were generated through coupon tests that were performed on unidirectional laminae. The challenges experienced during fatigue testing of in-plane, matrix-dominated unidirectional coupon specimens are presented in detail. The higher fidelity test data from the fiber-dominated and out-of-plane experiments are also included in this paper. Following the calibration experiments, a series of tension–tension fatigue validation tests were conducted on open-hole coupons with three different stacking sequences. Each specimen was cycled to a pre-determined number of fatigue cycles, followed by static residual strength tests in both tension and compression. This paper provides the stress–strain responses of these validation tests as well as high-resolution X-ray computed tomography images of the subsurface damage as a function of cycles. Seven analysis teams used these test results to calibrate their models and to benchmark the accuracy of their predictions of damage and residual mechanical properties.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract