Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Through-Thickness Strength Properties of Woven Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Laminates under Combined Tensile and Shear Loading

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the through-thickness stresses of woven glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates under combined tensile and shear loading. Tensile tests were carried out with cross specimens at room temperature under various stacking angles, and the through-thickness strength properties of the woven GFRP laminates were evaluated. The failure characteristics of the woven GFRP laminates were also studied by optical microscopy observations. A three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out to calculate the stress distributions in the cross specimens, and the failure conditions of the specimens were examined. The numerically determined interlaminar tensile and shear stresses at failure location were consistent with Hoffman and Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria when the stacking angle was relatively small. This work is the first attempt to quantify the relation between interlaminar tensile and shear strengths of GFRP composite laminates under tensile and shear loading simultaneously using a combined numerical and experimental approach. A method based on finite element stress analysis was developed for estimating the through-thickness strength of the composite laminates using the experimentally determined fracture load and location. The results suggest that the through-thickness strength under combined tensile and shear loading can be determined effectively by this approach for relatively small stacking angles.

A Data Driven Modelling Approach for the Strain Rate Dependent 3D Shear Deformation and Failure of Thermoplastic Fibre Reinforced Composites: Experimental Characterisation and Deriving Modelling Parameters

“…The experimental curves in combination with the corresponding model predictions based on the previously identified parameters G tan 0 and a are presented in Figure 8 ("Model, standard"). The respective dependency of the identified model parameters in (7) on the strain rate can be found in Figure 9 ("Standard fit"). In the case of the decay parameter a (Figure 9b), it becomes apparent that there is no simple dependency of the material parameters on the strain rate.…”

“…Characterisation of material properties is particularly challenging for the through thickness (TT) shear behaviour of composites [5]. They typically exhibit pronounced nonlinear behaviour, which is strongly influenced and changed by the presence of other stress components [6,7]. The challenges of determining such behaviour arise mainly from two domains: (a) specimen design and experimental evaluation and (b) deduction of TT material characteristics and material modelling.…”

Effect of Thermomechanical Loading at Low Temperatures on Damage Development in Glass Fiber Epoxy Laminates

“…The results showed that the fatigue delamination growth rate of GFRP woven laminates at low temperatures was significantly lower than at room temperature. Kanno [ 17 ] studied the stresses experienced by polymer matrix composite materials under tensile and shear loading using numerical and experimental methods. The tests were carried out at different stacking angles at room temperature.…”

Editorial for the Special Issue on Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

“…In addition to predicting the effective elastic properties, it is important to study the strength of the components made from FRP composites. Kanno et al [23] investigated the through-thickness stresses of woven glass FRP composite laminates under a combined tensile and shear loading. They calculated the stress distribution through FEA simulations and examined the failure conditions of the specimen [23].…”

“…Kanno et al [23] investigated the through-thickness stresses of woven glass FRP composite laminates under a combined tensile and shear loading. They calculated the stress distribution through FEA simulations and examined the failure conditions of the specimen [23]. This study provided useful information regarding the relationship between interlaminar tensile and shear strengths of glass fiber composites under both tensile and shear loading.…”