FAILURE ANALYSIS FOR COMPOSITE LAMINATES

R. C. Tennyson,* G. E l l i o t t , G. E. Mabson and M. Tratt

U n i v e r s i t y o f Toronto
I n s t i t u t e f o r Aerospace S t u d i e s
4925 D u f f e r i n S t r e e t
Downsview, O n t a r i o , Canada

Abstract reinforcement, respectively

A discussion o f t h e tensor polynomial f a i l u r e Greek Symbol s

c r i t e r i o n i s presented together w i t h a
d e s c r i p t i o n o f a b i a x i a l compression t e s t "1 , "2 normal s t r e s s e s measured i n 1 and 2
p r o c e d u r e used i n t h e e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e directions, respectively
i n t e r a c t i o n s t r e n g t h parameters. I n addition, % shear s t r e s s measured i n t h e 1-2
a formulation f o r predicting the fatigue l i f e o f plane
l a m i n a t e s i s g i v e n based on t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l
e v a l u a t i o n o f f a t i g u e f u n c t i o n s which a r e a l s o
u t i l i z e d i n a form o f t h e t e n s o r p o l y n o m i a l 1. Introduction
f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n as w e l l . Experimental r e s u l t s
a r e p r o v i d e d t o compare w i t h t h e f a t i g u e l i f e With t h e advent o f composite m a t e r i a l
p r e d i c t i o n s and t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e e f f e c t o f p r i m a r y s t r u c t u r a l components i n advanced h i g h
f l a w s and e n v i r o n m e n t . B o t h b o n d - l i n e d e f e c t s i n p e r f o r m a n c e a i r c r a f t and he1 i c o p t e r s , t h e need
sandwich beam c o n s t r u c t i o n and i n t e r - l a m i n a r f o r proven p r e d i c t i v e f o r m u l a t i o n s t o q u a n t i f y
disbond flaws are studied. Up t o p r e s e n t , t h e s t r e n g t h o f l a m i n a t e s i s o f paramount
c o m p r e s s i v e s t r e n g t h t e s t d a t a have been o b t a i n e d concern. Not o n l y i s t h i s i m p o r t a n t i n t h e
f o r ambient and e l e v a t e d t e m p e r a t u r e , i n i t i a l s t r u c t u r a l d e s i g n phase, b u t e f f i c i e n t
moisture-saturated conditions, including r e s u l t s systems management programs r e q u i r e t h e a b i l i t y
f r o m t h e r m a l - s p i ke c y c l i n g s i m u l a t i n g s u p e r s o n i c t o d e f i n e ' a c c e p t / r e p a i r i c r i t e r i a and
flight. non-destructive inspection i n t e r v a l s , thus
n e c e s s i t a t i n g t h e development o f a methodology
Nomenclature f o r a s s e s s i n g t h e e f f e c t o f d e f e c t s as w e l l .
F u r t h e r m o r e , i t i s w e l l known t h a t t h e combined
frequency e f f e c t s o f m o i s t u r e and e l e v a t e d t e m p e r a t u r e can
fatigue l i f e , cycles s e r i o u s l y degrade t h e s t r e n g t h o f polymer m a t r i x
normal s t r e s s r e s u l t a n t s composite m a t e r i a l s . This i s p a r t i c u l a r l y t r u e
shear s t r e s s r e s u l t a n t f o r epoxy r e s i n systems where i t has been found
r a t i o o f a l g e b r a i c minimum/maximum t h a t the glass t r a n s i t i o n temperature i s
c y c l i c stresses s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t e d due t o a b s o r p t i o n o f
s t a t i c l a m i n a shear s t r e n g t h measured moisture. When one c o n s i d e r s t h e c o m p o s i t e
i n 1-2 p l a n e l a m i n a t e s used on modern f i g h t e r s f o r example,
f a t i g u e shear s t r e n g t h o f l a m i n a q u e s t i o n s a r i s e c o n c e r n i n g t h e i r s t r e n g t h under
measured i n t h e 1-2 p l a n e f o r g i v e n N e l e v a t e d t e m p e r a t u r e - h i g h m o i s t u r e ( i .e.,
and R v a l u e s hot-wet) conditions. T h i s problem i s compounded
sample w i d t h b y t h e thermal spikes t h a t a r i s e i n t h e s t r u c t u r e
t e n s i l e and c o m p r e s s i v e s t a t i c l a m i n a during supersonic f l i g h t . One parameter t h a t has
s t r e n g t h s measured i n t h e aroused s e r i o u s c o n c e r n i s t h e c o m p r e s s i v e
1-direction s t r e n g t h o f such l a m i n a t e s . F o r example, f r o m a
t e n s i l e and c o m p r e s s i v e l a m i n a d e s i g n v i e w p o i n t , upper wing s k i n p a n e l s a r e
f a t i g u e s t r e n g t h s measured i n t h e s u b j e c t t o compressive bending loads d u r i n g
1 - d i r e c t i o n f o r g i v e n N and R v a l u e s flight. Thus i t i s o f p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e t o
t e n s i l e and c o m p r e s s i v e s t a t i c l a m i n a understand t h e e x t e n t t o which t h e compressive
s t r e n g t h s measured i n t h e s t r e n g t h (and s t i f f n e s s ) of such m a t e r i a l s i s
2-direction a f f e c t e d d u r i n g exposure t o s p e c i f i e d
t e n s i l e and c o m p r e s s i v e l a m i n a e n v i r o n m e n t s such as t h e ' h o t - w e t ' case and b y
f a t i g u e s t r e n g t h s measured i n t h e t h e presence o f i n t e r l a m i n a r f l a w s . However, t h e
2 - d i r e c t i o n f o r g i v e n N and R v a l u e s s i g n i f i c a n c e o f d e f e c t s on t h e s e c o m p r e s s i v e
p r o p e r t i e s has r e c e i v e d l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n t o d a t e .
Subscripts U n l i k e i s o t r o p i c m a t e r i a l s , c o m p o s i t e s do possess
u n i q u e f a i l u r e modes i n compression w h i c h a r e
x, Y o r t h o g o n a l i n - p l a n e s t r u c t u r a l axes s e n s i t i v e t o c e r t a i n types o f defects. One o f
t h e s e judged t o b e p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t i s t h e
1, 2, l a m i n a m a t e r i a l axes p a r a l l e l and i n t e r l a m i n a r c r a c k o r d e l a m i n a t i o n w h i c h has been
orthogonal t o the f i b e r shown t o o c c u r r e a d i l y under l o w e n e r g y o r
s u b c r i t i c a l impact. Russel 1 and s t r e e t 1 c o n s i d e r
t h a t d e l a m i n a t i o n s wi 11 be amongst t h e most
"Member AIAA. f r e q u e n t l y e n c o u n t e r e d d e f e c t s due t o t h e

Released to AIAA to publish in all forms.

 r e l a t i v e l y l o w f r a c t u r e e n e r g i e s found i n t h e i r p r e v i o u s a n a l y t i c a l and e x p e r i m e n t a l s t u d i e s on
e x p e r i m e n t a l program i n v e s t i g a t i n g ' o p e n i n g ' and h o l e s and ~ r a c k s ~f o, r~ example, have shown poor
' shear mode' f a i l u r e . F u r t h e r m o r e t h i s i s l i k e l y c o r r e l a t i o n u s i n g t h i s approach and r e c o u r s e t o
t o b e found i n a p p l i c a t i o n s such as t h e CF-18 ' c h a r a c t e r i s t i c d i s t a n c e s ' , which d e f i n e e i t h e r
(F-18 H o r n e t ) a i r c r a f t where a p p r o x i m a t e l y f o r t y 'evaluation points' o r ' integration intervals'
p e r c e n t o f t h e exposed s u r f a c e a r e a i s was necessary. These ' c h a r a c t e r i s t i c d i s t a n c e s '
graphite-epoxy material. A s i m i l a r defect, the were o b t a i n e d f r o m t e s t d a t a on l a m i n a t e s i n
s k i n - c o r e d i s b o n d , i s a l s o e x p e c t e d t o o c c u r due combination w i t h t h e c a l c u l a t e d stress f i e l d s .
t o i m p a c t damage on honeycomb sandwich
components. Because o f t h e s e problems, an An a l t e r n a t i v e method t o t h a t i n v o l v i n g
e x t e n s i v e e x p e r i m e n t a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n was d e t a i l e d stress c a l c u l a t i o n s coupled w i t h
u n d e r t a k e n t o s t u d y t h e e f f e c t s o f f l a w s and s e l e c t e d l a m i n a t e s t r e n g t h measurements i s a
e n v i r o n m e n t on c o m p r e s s i v e s t r e n g t h s , t h e r e s u l t s phenomenological approach. Assuming a g i v e n
o f w h i c h a r e p r e s e n t e d i n S e c t i o n 4. l a m i n a f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n , one can proceed t o
e v a l u a t e t h e s t r e n g t h p a r a m e t e r s as a f u n c t i o n o f
I n t h e d e s i g n o f l a m i n a t e s , one o f t h e m a j o r f l a w s i z e / p l a t e w i d t h , f l a w l o c a t i o n and
d i f f i c u l t i e s s t i l l confronting the analyst i s environment. Thus, a l a m i n a t e i s t r e a t e d as
that o f selecting a suitable strength criterion. t h o u g h i t had no f l a w b u t c o n s i s t e d o f i n d i v i d u a l
T h i s problem i s o f c o u r s e f u r t h e r compounded by 1 aminae h a v i n g s t r e n g t h p r o p e r t i e s s u i t a b l y
t h e presence o f h o l e s , i n t e r l a m i n a r f l a w s and reduced a c c o r d i n g t o t h e above parameters.
boundary c o n d i t i o n s which g i v e r i s e t o l o c a l
s t r e s s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s and t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l Up t o p r e s e n t , t h e d i s c u s s i o n has f o c u s s s e d
stress fields. S u f f i c e i t t o say t h a t an on s t a t i c s t r e n g t h p r e d i c t i o n s . It i s o f
accurate s t a t i c strength p r e d i c t i o n f o r a i n t e r e s t t o examine i f t h e s e methods can b e
laminate subject t o these conditions represents a extended t o p r e d i c t f a t i g u e f a i l u r e o f laminates.
considerable a n a l y t i c a l task. To e x t e n d t h i s P r e v i o u s work b y o t h e r a u t h o r s s m 7 has shown t h a t
predictive c a p a b i l i t y t o include fatigue loading t h e use o f ' f a t i g u e f u n c t i o n s ' , based on s i m p l e
r e p r e s e n t s an even more d i f f i c u l t problem. s t a t i c q u a d r a t i c f a i l u r e r e l a t i o n s , can y i e l d
r e a s o n a b l e c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h t e s t d a t a i n many
The a p p l i c a t i o n o f any f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n instances. I n t h e s e cases, o n l y t h e f a t i g u e
f i r s t requires a r e l a t i v e l y accurate evaluation s t r e n g t h s under t e n s i o n - t e n s i o n and shear l o a d i n g
o f the stress f i e l d . This i s not a t a l l a were r e q u i r e d ( X , Y, S), a l t h o u g h a d e l a m i n a t i o n
t r i v i a l t a s k as, i n g e n e r a l , c o m p o s i t e f a i l u r e s e f f e c t was i n c l u d e d . S i m i l a r work based on a
r e s u l t f r o m complex t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l s t r e s s q u a d r a t i c T s a i - H i l l f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n has a1 so
s t a t e s and t h e m a t e r i a l s a r e a n i s o t r o p i c . Thus, been c ~ m p l e t e d , ~ , ~a,g a i n u s i n g o n l y t h e X, Y and
f r o m an a p p l i c a t i o n s p o i n t o f v i e w i t seems t h a t S s t r e n g t h parameters. Although reasonable
t h e a s s u m p t i o n o f l a m i n a t e homogeneity must b e c o m p a r i s o n s w i t h t e s t d a t a were r e p o r t e d i n Ref.
made and t h i s a s s u m p t i o n has been d e t e r m i n e d t o 8 f o r S - g l a s s l e p o x y (SP-250-SFl), such was n o t
b e r e a s o n a b l e even f o r c r a c k e d s t r u c t u r e s , t h e case f o r g r a p h i t e l e p o x y (E788/T300) based on
provided t h a t the e l a s t i c crack t i p s i n u l a r i t y l i m i t e d r e s u l t s t o date.9 However, d e s p i t e t h e
c o n t a i n s a s u f f i c i e n t number o f f i b e r s . $ In d i s a g r e e m e n t , t h i s approach w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d i n
a d d i t i o n t h e r e are several other features o f t h e S e c t i o n 3.
p r o b l e m w h i c h must b e c o n s i d e r e d . First, i s the
f a i l u r e dominated b y p l a n a r o r t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l I n t h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t , we s h a l l f i r s t
phenomena? F o r example, i f d e l a m i n a t i o n i s a review t h e tensor plynomial f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n ,
p r e d o m i n a n t mode o f f a i l u r e , t h e n a w h i c h was a d v o c a t e d as e a r l y as 1966 by
three-dimensional analysis i s a necessity. On ~ a l m esi t e r 1 ° f o r ' u n f l a w e d ' 1 aminates. This
t h e o t h e r hand, i f t h e f a i l u r e i s p l a n a r , t h e n i t f a i l u r e model was f u r t h e r d e v e l o p e d e x t e n s i v e 1
i s r e a s o n a b l e t o approach t h e p r o b l e m f r o m a b y T s a i and wul1 i n q u a d r a t i c and c u b i c forms. 7 2
c o n v e n t i o n a l l a m i n a - l a m i n a t e approach. The However, i t has a l s o been found12 t h a t t h e c u b i c
second c o n s i d e r a t i o n r e l a t e s t o t h e absence o r f o r m c a n l e a d t o some u n d e s i r a b l e f e a t u r e s . The
presence o f flaws. I n t h i s regard, t h e r e are m a t h e m a t i c a l n a t u r e o f t h e c u b i c e q u a t i o n i s such
b a s i c a l l y t h r e e cases; n o m i n a l l y f l a w - f r e e , s h a r p t h a t t h e f a i l u r e s u r f a c e i n s t r e s s space ( a , u2,
f l a w s ( c r a c k s , d e l a m i n a t i o n s ) and smooth f l a w s u6) i s n o t c l o s e d . T~US, there exist situaiions
( c i r c u l a r holes, cutouts). The f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n f o r which t h e cubic f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n w i l l
adopted and t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g s t r e s s a n a l y s i s p r e d i c t t h a t the ultimate strength o f a laminate
s h o u l d p r o b a b l y a d d r e s s each o f t h e above i s infinite. T h i s phenomenon was f o ~ n d t~o ~ , ~ ~
s i t u a t i o n s i n d i v i d u a l l y s i n c e i t seems, a t o c c u r f o r some r e g i o n s i n t h e compression-
p r e s e n t , t h a t i t i s n o t p o s s i b l e t o encompass a l l c o m p r e s s i o n q u a d r a n t f o r example, where e x p e r i -
f a i l u r e p o s s i b i l i t i e s using a single f a i l u r e m e n t a l d a t a a r e l a c k i n g . Thus t h i s r e p o r t
criterion. d e s c r i b e s t h e d e s i g n o f an e x p e r i m e n t a l t e c h n i q u e
and t h e subsequent t e s t i n g o f a c o m p o s i t e l a m i -
Once t h e s t r e s s f i e l d i s known, i t would n a t e under a b i a x i a l c o m p r e s s i v e l o a d i n g . The
appear t h a t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f a l a m i n a f a i l u r e r e s u l t s a r e t h e n used t o o b t a i n new c o e f f i c i e n t s
c r i t e r i o n would b e a p p r o p r i a t e , a t each ' p o i n t ' f o r t h e cubic tensor polynomial. The improved
o r 'element' ( i f f i n i t e element techniques a r e f a i l u r e s u r f a c e s t h a t a r e c a l c u l a t e d from t h e
used) t h r o u g h o u t t h e 1 aminate. Because o f 1o c a l b i a x i a l c o m p r e s s i o n e x p e r i m e n t a r e s t u d i e d , and
s t r e s s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , one would presume t h a t some c o m p a r i s o n s a r e made between t h e r e v i s e d
f a i l u r e i n i t i a t e s i n the highest stressed region c u b i c and q u a d r a t i c t h e o r i e s .
and p r o g r e s s e s t h r o u g h t h e l a m i n a t e . However,
 models. T h i s f e a t u r e w i l l b e implemented l a t e r
2. The Tensor P o l y n o m i a l F a i l u r e C r i t e r i o n
when t h e q u a d r a t i c form i s employed t o p r e d i c t
t h e f a t i g u e s t r e n g t h of samples s u b j e c t e d t o
The most g e n e r a l f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n a v a i l a b l e
u n i a x i a l c y c l i c loads.
f o r unflawed composite m a t e r i a l s i s t h e t e n s o r
polynomial which i s g i v e n by t h e equation,
The n a t u r e o f t h e s e t e n s o r components demands
t h a t complicated m u l t i - l o a d experimental
t e c h n i q u e s b e used t o d e t e r m i n e m a t e r i a l
strengths w i t h i n t e r a c t i n g p r i n c i p a l stresses.
These e x p e r i m e n t s can b e e x p e n s i v e and t e d i o u s t o
< 1 no f a i l u r e p e r f o r m . C o n s e q u e n t l y a h y b r i d method was
= Ifailure
d e v i s e d 1 2 - l 3 u s i n g o n l y one e x p e r i m e n t and f o u r
> 1 exceeded f a i l u r e
c o n s t r a i n t equations t o determine the i n t e r a c t i o n
tensors. However, t h i s approach was f o u n d
inadequate i n p r o v i d i n g a reasonable s o l u t i o n i n
f o r i, j, k = 1...6. Fi, F . . and F . . a r e
1J t h e compression-compression q u a d r a n t o f t h e (ul,
s t r e n g t h t e n s o r s o f t h e Znd, 4 t h andJt!th r a n k ,
respectively. u2) p l a n e . The f o l l o w i n g a l t e r n a t e method has
been d e v e l o p e d t o overcome t h i s problem.
Plane Stress S t a t e
Consider a b i a x i a l experiment i n v o l v i n g only
I f one r e s t r i c t s t h e a n a l y s i s t o a p l a n e o l and 0 2 s t r e s s e s . W i t h 0 6 equal t o zero, t h e
s t r e s s s t a t e and c o n s i d e r s a c u b i c f o r m u l a t i o n as f o l l o w i n g tensor polynomial equation i s obtained
being a reasonahle representation o f t h e f a i l u r e f r o m Eq. ( 2 ) :
s u r f a c e , t h e n Eq. ( 1 ) can b e reduced t o

Having p r e v i o u s l y e s t a b l i s h e d t h e v a l u e s o f t h e
p r i n c i p a l t e n s o r s , t h e r e a r e t h r e e unknowns i n
Simple t e n s i o n , compression and shear t e s t s w i l l
t h i s e q u a t i o n : F , F1l2 and F12 . By
p e r f o r m i n g t h r e e a;fferent strengEh experiments
y i e l d t h e p r i n c i p a l s t r e n g t h components w h i c h a r e i n t h e (ul, u 2 ) p l a n e , t h r e e s i m u l t a n e o u s
defined by e q u a t i o n s can b e s o l v e d t o o b t a i n v a l u e s f o r t h e
i n t e r a c t i o n tensors. It s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t
t h i s t e c h n i q u e does n o t g u a r a n t e e c l o s u r e i n t h e
!ud: !2) plane. The t h r e e e x p e r i m e n t s must b e
J U i c ~ o u s l ys e l e c t e d so t h a t c l o s u r e w i l l b e
obtained.

The r e m a i n i n g two i n t e r a c t i o n p a r a m e t e r s ,
I n t e r a c t i o n S t r e n g t h Tensors and F266, a r e t h e n d e t e r m i n e d u s i n g t h e
od o f c o n s t r a i n t e q u a t i o n s w h i c h a r e d e r i v e d
A t t h i s p o i n t i t i s reasonable t o question by set t ing the discriminant o f the cubic
t h e need f o r r e t a i n i n g t h e c u b i c i n t e r a c t i o n p o l y n o m i a l e q u a t i o n ( i n terms o f some l o a d
terms. It has been f o u n d t h a t i n c e r t a i n b i a x i a l p a r a m e t e r s , see Ref. 14) t o zero. T h i s has t h e
l o a d cases, t h e s e t e r m s c o n t r i b u t e s u b s t a n t i a l l y e f f e c t o f forcing the f a i l u r e equation t o y i e l d
t o the ultimate strength prediction. For t h r e e r e a l roots, two o f which a r e equal, along
example, F i g . 1 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e c a l c u a l t e d t h e chosen l o a d path.
f a i l u r e s t r e n g t h f o r ( k g ) symmetric laminates
s u b j e c t t o v a r y i n g b i a x i a l l o a d s ( a = N,/N ,N x ~ B i a x i a1 Compression E x p e r i m e n t
= 0 ) and t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g optimum f i b e r a x g l e s .
Included i n t h i s graph i s t h e ' q u a d r a t i c ' To o b t a i n t h e d e s i r e d s t r e s s s t a t e o f b i a x i a l
p r e d i c t i o n , based on s e t t i n g t h e c u h i c t e r m s t o compression, b e n d i n g o f honeycomb sandwich
z e r o i n Eq. ( 2 ) . I t can r e a d i l y be seen t h a t cross-beams was employed. Ry a p p l y i n g b e n d i n g
l a r g e d i f f e r e n c e s i n f a i l u r e loades are moments t o each o f t h e two p e r p e n d i c u l a r arms o f
predicted. t h i s cross-beam, a b i a x i a l c o m p r e s s i v e s t a t e c a n
b e produced i n t h e r e g i o n where t h e beams
Limited experimental confirmation o f t h e c o i n c i d e (see Fig. 3). I n c a r r y i n g out these
c u b i c s t r e n g t h c r i t e r i o n has been o b t a i n e d f r o m t e s t s , a g r a p h i t e / e p o x y p r e p r e g was employed ( 3 M ,
i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e t e s t s c o n d u c t e d on ( k g ) SP288 T300).
g r a p h i t e l e p o x y tubes.12 A comparison o f She t e s t
d a t a w i t h b o t h q u a d r a t i c and c u b i c p r e d i c t i o n s i s The f i n a l d e s i g n o f t h e cross-beam t e s t
shown i n F i g . 3. I t i s c l e a r t h a t agreement w i t h specimen r e s u l t e d i n a t e s t s e c t i o n t h i c k n e s s o f
t h e c u h i c model i s q u i t e good w h i l e t h e q u a d r a t i c t w o p l i e s ( a b o u t 0.01 i n c h e s ) w i t h a t h i c k n e s s o f
formulation s u b s t a n t i a l l y underestimates t h e t h e surrounding composite o f e i g h t p l i e s (about
s t r e n g t h , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e optimum f i h e r a n g l e 0.04 i n c h e s ) . The t e n s i l e f a c i n g m a t e r i a l was
range. s e l e c t e d t o b e 7075-T6 aluminum f o r i t s l o w
modulus and h i g h s t r e n g t h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . A1 so,
However, i t s h o u l d be emphasized t h a t f o r c o r r u g a t e d honeycomb, Hexcel ALC-1/8-5052,. -003,
many l o a d cases, p a r t i c u l a r l y s i m p l e t e n s i o n and was chosen because o f i t s s u p e r i o r c o m p r e s s i v e
compression, l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e i n f a i l u r e l o a d s and shear s t r e n g t h s compared t o t h e expanded
i s p r e d i c t e d between t h e q u a d r a t i c and c u b i c variety. F i n a l l y , t h e optimum t h i c k n e s s e s o f t h e
aluminum and honeycomb were found t o b e 0.25 o f c o n d i t i o n s , which are t y p i c a l i n f a t i g u e
i n c h e s and 1.5 i n c h e s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . tests, then the fatigue strength functions
necessary t o c h a r a c t e r i z e a lamina, are given
The b i a x i a l c o m p r e s s i o n r i g ( F i g . 3) was by,
d e s i g n e d t o a l l o w i n d e p e n d e n t l o a d i n g o f t h e two
cross-beam arms. T h i s i s an i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e
s i n c e i t e n a b l e s one t o a c h i e v e a l m o s t any
desired stress r a t i o w i t h i n the t e s t section.
The s t r e s s e s a r e induced i n t h e sample
by c o m b i n i n g two d i s t i n c t t y p e s o f l o a d i n g s . One
o f t h e arms was p l a c e d under a f o u r - p o i n t b e n d i n g
moment. The second arm, due t o t h e r e s t r a i n i n g
a c t i o n o f t h e f i r s t arm, was l o a d e d b y
e s s e n t i a l l y a t h r e e - p o i n t b e n d i n g moment. To d e t e r m i n e t h e r e m a i n i n g q u a d r a t i c
D e t a i l s on t h e d e s i g n a n a l y s i s and f a b r i c a t i o n i n t e r a c t i o n t e r m would r e q u i r e a b i a x i a l f a t i g u e
p r o c e d u r e s can b e found i n Ref. 15. test. However, f o r n o n - b i a x i a l l o a d i n g , i t has
been found t h a t F12 ~ o n t r i b u t e sl i t t l e t o t h e
The b i a x i a l compression t e s t was s u c c e s s f u l st at ic strength prediction. I n any case, f a t i g u e
i n a c h i e v i n g a p r o p e r c o m p r e s s i v e f a i l u r e , as c a n t e s t s must b e c o n d u c t e d on O 0 and 90° samples f o r
b e seen i n t h e p h o t o g r a p h o f t h e f a i l e d specimen, given R values t o determine t h e f a t i g u e functions
F i g . 4. It s h o u l d h e n o t e d t h a t no p o r t i o n o f c o n t a i n e d i n Eqs. ( 5 ) . T h i s i n v o l v e s t e n s i o n and
t h e c o m p o s i t e f a c i n g appears t o have b u c k l e d . compression f a t i g u e t e s t s i n b o t h t h e f i b e r (1)
I n s t e a d , a c o m p r e s s i v e f a i l u r e was f i r s t o b s e r v e d and t r a n s v e r s e ( 2 ) d i r e c t i o n s , as w e l l as p u r e
t o o c c u r a t t h e edge o f t h e t e s t s e c t i o n , w h i c h shear i n t h e 1-2 p l a n e .
s u b s e q u e n t l y spread t o t h e beam edges.
A computer code based on t h e above c r i t e r i o n
F a i l u r e Surface P r o f i l e s has been d e v e l o p e d and a p p l i e d t o v a r i o u s l o a d
conditions. To use t h i s f a t i g u e model, t h e
The u l t i m a t e g o a l o f t h i s phase o f t h e f o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e was adopted. Using 1 a m i n a t e
i n v e s t i g a t i o n was t h e c l o s u r e o f t h e f a i l u r e p l a t e a n a l y s i s , t h e s t r e s s s t a t e f o r each o f t h e
p l a n e , which was a n a l y s e d u s i n g t h e new s e t o f laminae i s c a l c u l a t e d i n terms o f t h e a p p l i e d
It can he seen i n F i g . 5 t h a t t h e l o a d . An i t e r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e i s employed t o
use o f t h e b i a x i a l compression t e s t has been c a l c u l a t e t h e number o f c y c l e s t o f a i l u r e .
e n t i r e l y s u c c e s s f u l i n c l o s i n g t h i s plane. Also P a r t i a l f a i l u r e s a r e p e r m i s s i b l e , due t o m a t r i x
n o t i c e t h a t t h e q u a d r a t i c t h e o r y seems t o f a i l u r e o r m a t r i x and f i b e r f a i l u r e i n e a c h
o v e r p r e d i c t t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e m a t e r i a l under lamina, p r i o r t o o v e r a l l laminate f i n a l f a i l u r e .
b i a x i a l compression. T h i s c o u l d have d r a m a t i c The form o f t h e f a t i g u e c u r v e s adopted i n t h i s
i m p l i c a t i o n s i n t h e design o f composite p a r t s i f program i s :
one i n c o r r e c t l y assumes t h a t t h e q u a d r a t i c t h e o r y
provides conservative s t r e n g t h estimates.
However, i t i s e v i d e n t i n t h e s u r f a c e c o n t o u r X(N) = Xstatic ['endurance + - 'endurance 1
p l o t s shown i n F i g . 6 t h a t a s m a l l r e g i o n Xstatic Xstatic
s t i l l e x i s t s i n t h e f a i l u r e s u r f a c e where complex
r o o t s occur. U s i n g t h e methodology f o r t r e a t i n g
t h e s e cases d e s c r i b e d i n Ref. 15, one can r e a d i l y
where X d e n o t e s a p a r t i c u l a r s t r e n g t h parameter.
o b t a i n estimates o f t h e f a i l u r e loads. T h i s was
also necessary t o complete t h e b i a x i a l s t r e n g t h
Note t h a t r e s i d u a l c u r e s t r e s s e s , i f
c u r v e as n o t e d i n F i g . 1.
i n c l u d e d , c o u l d cause a v a r i a t i o n i n t h e R v a l u e
from p l y t o p l y .

3. Application o f Strength C r i t e r i o n t o Fatigue Fatigue Tests

L i f e Prediction
An e x p e r i m e n t a l program was u n d e r t a k e n t o
F a t i g u e Model evaluate t h e performance o f t h e quadratic tensor
polynomial i n p r e d i c t i n g laminate f a t i g u e l i v e s
L e t us assume t h a t t h e f a t i g u e l i f e e q u a t i o n f o r s i m p l e l o a d i n g c o n d i t i o n s . The m a t e r i a l
c a n b e e x p r e s s e d i n t h e same f o r m as t h e t e n s o r system i n v e s t i g a t e d was a g r a p h i t e / e p o x y p r e p r e g
p o l y n o m i a l f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n [Eq. ( I ) ] . However, t a p e ( H e r c u l e s Magnamite ASI/3501-6). The
i n t h i s case, t h e f a t i g u e s t r e n g t h p a r a m e t e r s a r e program c o n s i s t e d p r i m a r i l y o f g e n e r a t i n g a s e t
not constants, b u t r a t h e r are f u n c t i o n s o f t h e o f S-N c u r v e s c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e f a t i g u e
f r e q u e n c y o f l o a d i n g ( n ) , t h e number o f c y c l e s f u n c t i o n a l q u a n t i t i e s , X, X ' , Y, Y ' and S
(N) and t h e s t r e s s r a t i o R = o . /o i.e., F = required f o r the implementation o f the f a i l u r e
F ( n , N, R). The s t r e s s e s i n ~ ~ ~ ~ ( lb e ~ ~ t ~ t hae olr y .l T h i s was a c c o m p l i s h e d by c o n d u c t i n g a
r e g a r d e d as t h e maximum c y c l i c p r i n c i p a l l a m i n a s e r i e s o f s t a t i c and f a t i g u e t e s t s on
stresses. u n i d i r e c t i o n a l laminates.

Under s i m p l e l o a d i n g c o n d i t i o n s when n and R S t a t i c t e s t s were p e r f o r m e d on a T i n i us-01 sen

are constants, then the f a t i g u e strength t e s t i n g machine, whi 1e a Sonntag SF-1-Il u n i v e r s a l
p a r a m e t e r s a r e o n l y a f u n c t i o n o f t h e number o f f a t i g u e machine ( o p e r a t i n g a t 30 Hz) was used i n
c y c l e s , N. As s t a t e d e a r l i e r , t h e q u a d r a t i c t h e f a t i g u e p o r t i o n o f t h e experiment.
f o r m u l a t i o n p r o v i d e s good s t r e n g t h p r e d i c t i o n s
f o r such l o a d cases as u n i a x i a l t e n s i o n and S t a n d a r d t e n s i o n coupons were employed t o
compression. Consequently, f o r t h i s 1 i m i t e d s e t o b t a i n t h e X and Y s t r e n g t h v a l u e s whereas
 l a m i n a t e - c o r e i n t e r f a c e . The purpose was t o
c o m p r e s s i o n d a t a ( X ' , Y ' ) were o b t a i n e d from
o b t a i n s t a t i c and f a t i g u e s t r e n g t h d a t a as a
sandwich beam samples s u b j e c t t o f o u r - p o i n t
f u n c t i o n o f f l a w s i z e and l o c a t i o n .
b e n d i n g . Ci r c u l a r c y l i n d r i c a l t u b e s were used t o
i n v e s t i g a t e shear s t r e n g t h (S) b y means o f a
s p e c i a l t o r s i o n f i x t u r e a t t a c h e d t o t h e Sonntag Two e n v i r o n m e n t a l p a r a m e t e r s were
machine. n e t a i l s o f t h e t e s t samples and i n v e s t i g a t e d - t e m p e r a t u r e and moi s t u r e
e x p e r i m e n t a l p r o c e d u r e s can b e o b t a i n e d from Ref. absorption.
16.
M o i s t u r e C o n t r o l Specimens

Fatigue Data Two s e t s o f c o n t r o l specimens c o r r e s p o n d i n g

t o d i f f e r e n t t e s t sample t h i c k n e s s e s were used t o
F a t i g u e d a t a f o r c o n s t a n t amp1 i t u d e c y c l i c p r o v i d e a measure o f t h e m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t i n b o t h
l o a d i n g a t 30 Hz have been p l o t t e d i n F i g s . 7 t o t h e sandwich beams and p u r e c o m p r e s s i o n coupons.
11 as a f u n c t i o n o f N. The c o r r e s p o n d i n g v a l u e s I n a d d i t i o n , t o s t u d y t h e e f f e c t o f t h e bonded
o f t h e f a t i g u e s t r e n g t h p a r a m e t e r s used i n Eq. c o m p o s i t e f a c e sheet, each beam specimen had t w o
( 6 ) a r e summarized on each graph based on a ' b e s t c o n t r o l s ; one b e i n g an u n p r o t e c t e d c o m p o s i t e
f i t ' curve through t h e data. coupon, t h e o t h e r h a v i n g t h i n a1 uminun f o i l
bonded t o one s i d e w i t h t h e honeycomb/facing
To a s c e r t a i n t h e c a p a b i l i t y o f t h e f a t i g u e adhesive.
f a i l u r e model (based on t h e q u a d r a t i c f o r m o f t h e
tensor polynomial strength c r i t e r i o n ) t o p r e d i c t The c o n t r o l samples were s u b j e c t e d t o t h e
t h e 1 i f e o f an a r b i t r a r y l a m i n a t e , c o m p r e s s i o n same e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s as t h e specimens
f a t i g u e t e s t s were a l s o c o n d u c t e d on a f o r w h i c h t h e m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t was e v a l u a t e d .
q u a s i - i s o t r o p i c l a m i n a t e o f ( o O , +45O, go0),
c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e r e s u l t s o f which a r e g i v e n i n F n v i r o n m e n t a l Chamber
F i g . 17.
An e n v i r o n m e n t a l chamber was d e s i g n e d t o
Application o f Fatigue F a i l u r e Analysis t o p r o v i d e c o n t r o l 1ed e l e v a t e d t e m p e r a t u r e and
Lami n a t e s h u m i d i t y l e v e l s f o r i n - s i t u compression t e s t i n g
( F i g . 1 7 ) . T h i s chamher was c o n s t r u c t e d from
To d e m o n s t r a t e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e f a t i g u e aluminum s h e e t s w h i c h were welded t o form t h e box
f a i l u r e e q u a t i o n u s i n g t h e d a t a p r e s e n t e d , l e t us structure. A p a i r o f h e a t i n g c o i l s were a t t a c h e d
c o n s i d e r t h e q u a s i - i s o t r o p i c 1 a m i n a t e ( o O , +45O, t o t h e l o w e r s u r f a c e o f t h e chamber t o p r o v i d e
go0), o f AS1-3501-6 g r a p h i t e l e p o x y m a t e r i a l . t h e a p p r o p r i a t e t e s t temperatures. Saturated
Lamina f a i l u r e e n v e l o p e s were f i r s t c o n s t r u c t e d m o i s t u r e c o n d i t i o n s were o b t a i n e d by b o i l i n g
f o r s t a t i c l o a d i n g ( F i g . 13) and as a f u n c t i o n o f d i s t i l l e d w a t e r i n t h e chamber d u r i n g t e s t i n g .
t h e number o f l o a d c y c l e s N, as t y p i f i e d i n F i g s . I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n l e a d s ( s t r a i n gauges and
14-15. One s h o u l d n o t e t h a t t h e s e c u r v e s t h e r m o c o u p l e s ) were passed t h r o u g h t h e chamber
r e p r e s e n t c o n s t a n t a m p l i t u d e c o n d i t i o n s and were l i d o p e n i n g and c o n n e c t e d t o a V i s h a y a u t o m a t i c
d e r i v e d using t h e q u a d r a t i c form o f t h e f a i l u r e s t r a i n r e c o r d i n g system and an X-Y p l o t t e r .
model w i t h F12 = 0.
A s u p p o r t f i x t u r e was c o n s r u c t e d w i t h i n t h e
T h i s model was f i r s t employed t o c a l c u l a t e chamber t o t e s t s t a n d a r d , 22 i n c h l o n g , f o u r -
t h e c o m p r e s s i o n f a t i g u e s t r e n g t h f o r comparison p o i n t beam h e n d i n g specimens. Each o f t h e l o a d
w i t h t h e t e s t d a t a p r e s e n t e d i n F i g . 12. a p p l i c a t i o n p o i n t s on t h e beams c o n s i s t e d o f one
D e r i v a t i o n o f t h e p r e d i c t e d c u r v e shown i s based i n c h square pads which were d e s i g n e d t o p r o v i d e
on a p p l y i n g t h e a n a l y s i s t o each l a m i n a simple support houndary c o n d i t i o n s .
separately t o determine which p l y ( o r p l i e s ) f a i l
f i r s t i n fatigue. Assumptions must t h e n b e made Environmental C o n d i t i o n i n g
r e g a r d i n g t h e r e s i d u a l l a m i n a t e s t i f f n e s s , and
Eq. ( 6 ) i s s u b s e q u e n t l y a p p l i e d t o t h e r e m a i n i n g Specimen D r y - n u t . To e l i m i n a t e any i n i t i a l
p l i e s u n t i l o v e r a l l laminate f a i l u r e occurs. It m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t , a l l specimens were s u b j e c t e d t o
c a n be seen f r o m F i g . 12 t h a t q u i t e good a d r y i n g - o u t p e r i o d o f s i x days a t 200°F and a
agreement was o b t a i n e d . p r e s s u r e o f about 1V6 t o r r .

T h i s same model can now b e used t o During t h e dry-out, t h e temperature, t o t a l

d e m o n s t r a t e s i m p l e t e n s i o n f a t i g u e 1 if e p r e s s u r e and p a r t i a l p r e s s u r e s o f t h e v a r i o u s
p r e d i c t i o n s as shown i n F i g . 16. It i s c o n s t i t u e n t s i n t h e vacuum chamber were
i n t e r e s t i n g t o compare t h e t e n s i o n and m o n i t o r e d . Rased on mass s p e c t r o m e t e r d a t a i t
compression r e s u l t s . Whereas o v e r a l l c o m p r e s s i o n was d e t e r m i n e d t h a t w a t e r vapour was t h e dominant
f a t i g u e was i n i t i a t e d a t f i r s t p l y f a i l u r e , t h e species o f t h e outgassing products. Thus, when
ultimate tension fatigue strength followed a f t e r t h e o u t g a s s i n g c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e vacuum chamber
f i r s t and second p l y f a i l u r e s . s t a b i l i z e d a f t e r about t h r e e days, i t was
c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e t e s t specimens were
e s s e n t i a l l y devoid o f water moisture.
4. E f f e c t o f F l a w s and E n v i r o n m e n t on
Compressive S t r e n g t h The p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e l o s s was found h y
w e i g h i n g t h e c o n t r o l specimens b e f o r e and a f t e r
Flaws being subjected t o t h e dry-out. The average mass
l o s s f o r 8 - p l y specimens w i t h o u t b a c k i n g , 8 - p l y
To p r o v i d e s p e c i f i e d d e l a m i n a t i o n s , T e f l o n specimens w i t h aluminum b a c k i n g and 1 6 - p l y
d i s c s were i n s e r t e d e i t h e r i n t o t h e l a m i n a t e o r , specimens w i t h o u t b a c k i n g was 0.132, 0.102 and
f o r t h e case o f sandwich beams, a t t h e 0.008%, r e s p e c t i v e l y .
 e s t i m a t e s of f a t i g u e l i f e t o b e made o r a g i v e n
Water R a t h Soak. A s u b s e t o f specimens t o b e m a t e r i a l l a m i n a t e under u n i a x i a l l o a d
t e s t e d w i t h h i g h m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t s were s u b j e c t e d conditions.
t o a l o n g t e r m w a t e r b a t h soak i n an a t t e m p t t o
reach s a t u r a t i o n l e v e l s . Several c o n t r o l ( 3 ) E l e v a t e d t e m p e r a t u r e ( - 2 1 ? O ~ ) combined
specimens were weighed p e r i o d i c a l l y d u r i n g t h e w i t h t h e ' d r y ' s t a t e produces no s i g n f i c a n t
soak t o o b t a i n t h e r a t e o f mass g a i n . Of a l l t h e change i n c o m p r e s s i v e s t i f f n e s s o r s t engh
specimens, t h e c o n t r o l samples w i t h a b a c k i n g r e l a t i v e t o t h e ambient v a l u e s .
absorbed more moi s t u r e t h a n t h e o t h e r specimens.
T h i s can b e e x p l a i n e d by n o t i n g t h a t t h e a d h e s i v e ( 4 ) E l e v a t e d t e m ~ e r a t u r e(-210°F) combined
a l s o absorbs m o i s t u r e . w i t h h i g h m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t (-1.7% H20) r e s u l t s i n
no s i g n i f i c a n t change i n c o m p r e s s i v e s t i f f n e s s
Thermal Spikes. Each specimen s e l e c t e d f o r b u t a l a r g e r e d u c t i o n i n compression s t r e n g t h
t h e r m a l s p i k e t e s t i n g was f i r s t exposed t o t h e
l o n g t e r m soak and t h e n s u b j e c t e d t o t e n s p i k e s
-
(21% 4 3 % ) , r e l a t i v e t o ambient s t a t e v a l u e s .
o v e r a p e r i o d o f f i v e days. The ' s p i k e s ' were ( 5 ) The s u p e r p o s i t i o n o f t e n t h e r m a l s p i k e s
o b t a i n e d by p l a c i n g each specimen i n t h e
( u p t o 3 0 0 ~ ~i n) c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h h i g h m o i s t u r e
e n v i r o n m e n t a l t e s t i n g chamber a l o n g w i t h a s m a l l
c o n t e n t (-1.6% H 0 ) produces a s m a l l i n c r e a s e i n
amount o f water. The chamher was t h e n h e a t e d a t
c o m p r e s s i v e s t i f f n e s s and s t r e n g t h r e 1 a t i v e t o
which p o i n t t h e t e m p e r a t u r e r o s e t o t h e b o i l i n g
t h e elevated temperature values obtained without
p o i n t where i t s t a b i l i z e d u n t i l t h e w a t e r was
thermal spikes. However, t h e s t r e n g t h i s s t i l l
c o m p l e t e l y v a p o u r i zed. The t e m p e r a t u r e t h e n r o s e
s u b s t a n t i a l l y b e l o w t h e ambient s t a t e value.
t o about 3 0 0 ° ~ , a f t e r w h i c h t h e h e a t was t u r n e d
o f f and t h e chamber a1 lowed t o c o o l . This
(6) H i g h m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t ( e s t i m a t e d a t
p r o c e d u r e ensured a v e r y humid atmosphere and
>1.7%) a f f e c t s t h e f a i l u r e mode under s t a t i c
t h u s t h e m o i s t u r e l o s s f r o m t h e specimen was
compressive loading. T e s t r e s u l t s showed
m i n i m i zed. A t y p i c a l temperature-time p r o f i l e i s d e l a m i n a t i o n as b e i n g t h e p r i m a r y mode f o r h i g h
shown i n F i g . 18.
moisture content.

( 7 ) Ruck1 i n g o c c u r s f o r l a r g e d e l a m i n a t i o n
Experimental Results
f l a w s , r e l a t i v e t o t h e specimen dimensions. This
phenomenon can b e p r e d i c t e d r e a s o n a b l y w e l l (Ref.
It was observed o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s
i n v e s t i g a t i o n t h a t the s t a t i c strength values 17).
v a r i e d n o t o n l y w i t h m a t e r i a l b a t c h (-15%), b u t
( 8 ) Small i n t e r l a m i n a r f l a w s caused a
w i t h m a n u f a c t u r i n g method as w e l l . Thus, t h e
r e d u c t i o n i n c o m p r e s s i o n s t r e n g t h , p r o b a b l y due
t e s t data described i n t h e following sections
t o i n t e r l a m i n a r s t r e s s e s near t h e f l a w .
have been n o r m a l i z e d b y t h e average s t a t i c ,
' u n f l a w e d ' , ambient s t r e n g t h v a l u e s ( u * ) w h i c h
( 9 ) The endurance s t r e n g t h i n f a t i g u e was
a r e l i s t e d i n t h e a p p r o p r i a t e graphs.
r e l a t i v e l y u n a f f e c t e d b y t h e presence o f
delamination flaws.
The e f f e c t o f m i d - l a m i n a t e f l a w s i z e i s shown
i n F i g s . 19-71 f o r amhient, h o t - w e t and t h e r m a l
spike conditions, respectively. I n some c a s e s ,
l o c a l d e l a m i n a t i o n produced b u c k l i n g f a i l u r e s Acknowledgements
p r i o r t o u l t i m a t e f r a c t u r e o f t h e laminate (see
The a u t h o r s would l i k e t o acknowledge t h e
F i g . 22, f o r example). f i n a n c i a l a i d o f t h e N a t u r a l Sciences and
E n g i n e e r i n g Research C o u n c i l of Canada ( G r a n t No.
F i g u r e 23 p r e s e n t s a summary o f t h e A-2783) who have p r o v i d e d a v a l u a b l e supplement
c o m p r e s s i o n sandwich beam f a t i g u e t e s t s . Wote t o t h e s u p p o r t r e c e i v e d from t h e U.S. N a t i o n a l
t h a t t h e s t r e s s l e v e l s have a1 so been n o r m a l i z e d A e r o n a u t i c s and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( u n d e r G r a n t
by e*. h e i n t e r e s t i n g o b s e r v a t i o n was t h a t t h e
f a t i g u e f a i l u r e modes c o r r e s p o n d e d t o t h e
No. NSG-7409) f o r t h e development o f t h e s t a t i c
s t r e n g t h model. R e s u l t s on t h e e f f e c t o f f l a w s
e q u i v a l e n t s t a t i c f a i l u r e modes f o r a g i v e n f l a w and t h e f a t i g u e s t u d i e s were o b t a i n e d under
s i ze . c o n t r a c t (No. 0658.97708-2-2771 ) w i t h t h e
Canadian Department o f N a t i o n a l Defense. The
a u t h o r s a r e v e r y a p p r e c i a t i v e t o t h e Defense
Conclusions Research E s t a b l ishment P a c i f i c f o r t h e i r
continued support.
( 1 ) The a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e c u b i c t e n s o r
polynomial f a i l u r e c r i t e r i o n t o s t a t i c s t r e n g t h
p r e d i c t i o n s f o r laminates subject t o plane stress References
s t a t e s has been shown t o p r e d i c t q u i t e d i f f e r e n t
f a i l u r e l o a d s t h a n t h e q u a d r a t i c model when 1. R u s s e l l , A. J., S t r e e t , K. N., " F a c t o r s
s u h s t a n t i a l h i a x i a l s t r e s s s t a t e s e x i s t ( s u c h as A f f e c t i n g t h e I n t e r l a m i n a r F r a c t u r e Energy o f
pressure loading i n shells). On t h e o t h e r hand, G r a p h i t e l E p o x y Laminates", Proc. ICCM-IV,
f o r s i m p l e l o a d c o n d i t i o n s such as t e n s i o n and P r o g r e s s i n S c i e n c e and E n g i n e e r i n g o f
compression, b o t h models y i e l d e s s e n t i a l l y Composites, Eds. Hayaski e t a l , JSCM, Tokyo,
identical results. Japan, 1982, pp. 279-286.

( 2 ) There i s r e a s o n a b l e cause t o c o n j e c t u r e 7. Snyder, M. D., Cruse, T. A., "Crack T i p

a t t h i s time t h a t t h e tensor polynomial f a i l u r e Stress I n t e n s i t y Factors i n F i n i t e
c r i t e r i o n can b e m o d i f i e d t o i n c o r p o r a t e ' f a t i g u e A n i s o t r o p i c Plates", A i r Force M a t e r i a l s
f u n c t i o n s ' w h i c h wi 11 p e r m i t p r e l i m i n a r y L a b o r a t o r y , AFVL-TQ-73-209, Aug. 1973.
 3. Cuismer, R. J., Whitney, J. M., " U n i a x i a l 12. Tennyson, R. C., MacDonald, n., Nanyaro, A.
F a i l u r e o f Composite Laminates C o n t a i n i n g P., " E v a l u a t i o n o f t h e Tensor P o l y n o m i a l
S t r e s s C o n c e n t r a t i o n s " , F r a c t u r e Mechanics o f F a i l u r e C r i t e r i o n f o r Composite M a t e r i a l s " ,
Composites, ASTM STP 593, 1975. J. Composite M a t e r i a l s , Vol. 17, p. 63,
1978.
4. Garbo, S. P., Ogonowski, J. M., " S t r e n g t h
P r e d i c t i o n s o f Composite Laminates w i t h 13. Nanyaro, A. P., " E v a l u a t i o n o f t h e Tensor
llnloaded F a s t e n e r H o l e s " , AIAA J., Vol. 18, P o l y n o m i a l F a i l u r e C r i t e r i o n f o r Composite
No. 5, May 1980. M a t e r i a l s " , M.A.Sc. Thesis, U n i v e r s i t y o f
T o r o n t o , 1978.
5. Hashin, Z., Rotem, A., "A F a t i g u e F a i l u r e
C r i t e r i o n f o r F i b e r R e i n f o r c e d M a t e r i a l s " , J. 14. Tennyson, R. C., Nanyaro, A. P., Wharram, G.
Composite M a t e r i a l s , Vol. 7, Oct. 1973. F., " A p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e Cubic P o l y n o m i a l
Strength C r i t e r i o n t o the F a i l u r e Analysis o f
6. Rotem, A., Hashin, Z., " F a t i g u e F a i l u r e o f Composite M a t e r i a l s " , J. Composite M a t e r i a l s
Angle P l y Laminates", AIAA J., Vol. 14, J u l y Supplement, Vol. 14, p. 28, 1980.
1976.
15 Tennyson, R. C., E l l i o t t , W. G., " F a i l u r e
7. Rotm, A,, " F a t i g u e F a i l u r e o f M u l t i d i r e c t i o n - A n a l y s i s o f Composite L a m i n a t e s I n c l u d i n g
a l Laminate", AIAA J., Vol. 17, March 1979. B i a x i a l Compression", NASA CR 172192, Aug.
1983.
8. Sims, n. F., Rrogdon, V. H., "A Comparison o f
t h e F a t i g u e B e h a v i o r of Composites llnder 16. Tennyson, R. C., Hansen, J. q., Mabson, G.
D i f f e r e n t L o a d i n g Modes", Proc. ASTM Symp. on E., Wharram, G. E., E l l i o t t , G., "Development
" F a t i g u e of F i l a m e n t a r y Composite M a t e r i a l s " , o f General F a i l u r e Model t o P r e d i c t S t a t i c
Denver, C o l o r a d o , Nov. 1976. F a i l u r e and F a t i g u e L i f e o f I l n f l a w e d and
Flawed Graphi t e / F p o x y L a m i n a t e s " , Canadian
9. P r i v a t e Communication, Re1 1 He1 i c o p t e r , Sept. Dept. N a t i o n a l Defence R e p o r t , C o n t r a c t No.
1980. 06SR.97708-7-2721, Defence Research F s t .
P a c i f i c , V i c t o r i a , R.C., Canada, December
10. M a l m e i s t e r , A. K., "Geometry o f T h e o r i e s o f 1983.
S t r e n g t h " , Vekhani ka Pol imerov, Vol 2, No.
4 , 1966.
.
17. Mabson, G. E., Hansen, J. S., Tennyson, R. C.
and Wharram, G. E., " I n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e
11. T s a i , 9. W., Wu, E. M., "A General Theory o f S t r e n g t h and F a t i g u e P r o p e r t i e s o f
S t r e n g t h f o r A n i s o t r o p i c M a t e r i a l s " , $1. Graphi t e / E p o x y L a m i n a t e s " , Canadian Dept.
Composite M a t e r i a l s , Vol. 5, 1971. N a t i o n a l Defence, Defence Research Est.
P a c i f i c C o n t r a c t o r s R e p o r t S e r i e s 83-32, June
1982.

Fig 2 Comparison o t Internal Pressure Tests

LOCUS OF MAXIMUM STRENGTH ond OPTIMUM FIBER ANGLE w t h Fa~lureC r ~ t e r ~for
a Grophtte -Epoxy
FOR VARYING BlAXlAL STRESS RATIO ( 3M S P 2 8 8 - T300)

(Symmetric Balanced (f$),Graphite/ Epoxy )

q > 0 5 "y'0
2500 --
-
3
C i b i c Palynam a Z r fer c n
O u a d r a * : ~P a y r a m ~ a l:r . e r a "
Exper m e r f a Dato

-
2000

7
a:

1500 -
3
>

r: I
I

?
:
'

\
!

i
A
I1 ,\(

1000 - i
I ;
'I

1 ,

500 -

o1 I I I I 140
0 I I
0 02 04 06 08 10
0 30 60 90

BlAXlAL STRESS RATIO Ux/Uy = Q L a m ~ n a t ~ o Angle

n (deg )

Fig. 1
 Fig. 4 Close-up View of Failed Section
( Note : Failure first occurred in test section
and then spread to beam edges

Fig. 3 Test Set-Up for Biaxial Compression

using Dual Independent Loading System

FAILURE-CRITERIA
-Revtsed Cubic
-- Cubic ( Ref 12 1
--- O u a d r a t ~ c

Fig 5. Cornpar~sonof Failure Plane

Pred~ctionsfor m6 = 0
( Graphite/ Epoxy,
3 M SP 288 T 3 0 0 )
 FATIGUE CURVE O0 TENSION FATIGUE CURVE 0" COMPRESSION
- 300
R = 0 0 5 U) R = 20 I
FIGURE 7 U, 5,A, 3 6 3 9 hsl
x
FIGURE 8. U, ,,,, = ' 3 8
5 hs~
0, ,,,
ExP =
= 190
- 0 23
0 ~ S I -
cn
cn
1 3 q E N=D
O ksl

0
Hercules AS1 / 3 5 0 1 - 6
0

NUMBER OF CYCLES NUMBER OF CYCLES

FATIGUE CURVE 90° COMPRESSION

FATIGUE CURVE 90° TENSION -
-5 60
FIGURE 9.
R=005
a2 ,,,, = 7 7 6 7 PSI
-
1
FIGURE 10 u2
R ',*',,, = 4125 ~ S I

0
U2 ,,, = 3 9 0 0 PSI
B
= 150 k s ~
Exp = - 0 225 EXp = - 0 12 k51

Hercules A S / 3 5 0 1 t Hercules AS1 / 3 5 0 1 - 6

B\

0 0 0

I 1 1
I 10 104 I

NUMBER OF CYCLES NUMBER OF CYCLES

FATIGUE CURVE O" or 90" TORSION COMPRESSION FATIGUE CURVE I 0 . i 4 5 . 9 0 ) ~

I I 1201 ,, 1
0 (0,+45.90)s
FIGUREII R=005 Z FIGURE 12
7 1 2 = 12
~ 6 ~ kst ~ ~ 0 R = 20
= 6 7 ksl
7,2END H e r c u l e s AS11 3 5 0 1 - 6
EXP = -0 206 0-Eaper~menr

Hercules AS1 / 3 5 0 1 - 6 IX
a
; 8 0

2 -
0 -
i F ~ r s and
t
Ultimate Fa~lure

* xV, a
W -

I lo2 104 106

N U M B E R OF CYCLES NUMBER OF CYCLES

 L A M I N A FAILURE ENVELOPE - STATIC LAMINA FAILURE ENVELOPE - 104 CYCLES

FIGURE 13. FIGURE 14.

t
10
C2(KSI) Hercules AS1 / 3501 - 6

t C2(KSI )
R . {;,"5

Hercules AS1 / 3 5 0 1 - 6

L A M I N A FAILURE ENVELOPE - lo6 CYCLES FIGURE 16. T E N S I L E FATIGUE CURVES ( 0 ,r 45,90 ) s

FIGURE 15 I20
I \ (0,+45,90Is
R =0 0 5
I
t
00 5
H e r c u l e s AS1 / 3 5 0 1 - 6
a;(KSI ) ~.{,o
Hercules AS1 1 3 5 0 1 - 6

N U M B E R OF C Y C L E S

Fig. 17 View of Enviromental Chamber in

Compression Test Machine
60 I
0
1
20 40 60 80
TIME (min
100
I
120
I
140 -
Fig. 18 Typ~calThermal Spike Cycle ( # 9 )
 F q 19 STATIC COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH vs. F L A W SIZE
Flg 20 STATIC COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH vs. F L A W SIZE
MID-LAMINATE FLAW. AMBIENT CONDITION
MD-LAMINATE FLAW, HOT-WET CONDITION
SANDWICH B E A M SPECIMENS
SANDWICH BEAM SPECIMENS

1 I
0.25 0 50 0.75

FLAW DIAEAETER (IN )

FLAW DIAMETER (IN.)

Fig 21 STATIC COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH vs F L A W SIZE

MID-LAMINATE FLAW, THERMAL SPIKE CONDITION

SANDWICH BEAM SPECIMENS

Fig. 22 Compressive Failure Due to

Local Delamination

Flq 23 COMPRESSIVE FATIGUE STRENGTH

SANDWICH BEAM SPECIMENS, AMBIENT CONDITIOY

0
NORMALIZED WRT W L A W E O CRY STATK: I K T R U \ K STRENGTH

FLAW DIAMETER (IN.)