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Title: Transverse compressive testing of thick Kevlar/epoxy laminates

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5713382

A test program was performed to define a suitable geometry for measuring the transverse compressive properties of Kevlar 49 cloth/epoxy composites. Two geometries and strain measuring methods were evaluated: straight-sided cylinders with strain calculated from total platen displacement (includes specimen end effects), and reduced-section cylinders with strain measured in the reduced gage region (no end effects). The straight-sided specimens had length to diameter ratios between 1.1 and 2.7 and were tested with their ends both dry and lubricated. Neither the aspect ratio nor the end condition had a significant effect on measured compressive properties: stress-strain response and strength. At stress levels below failure, the stress-strain curves from the reduced-section samples were in good agreement with the straight-sided specimen data. Curves from both geometries lie within the same scatter band. Strength data from the reduced-section specimen were inconclusive. Based on this study, straight-sided cylinders with aspect ratios between 2.25 and 2.50 were selected as suitable specimens for characterizing the transverse compressive properties of thick Kevlar cloth/epoxy laminates.

Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
5713382
Report Number(s):
SAND-79-0176C; CONF-791116-3
Resource Relation:
Conference: 11. national SAMPE technical conference, Boston, MA, USA, Nov 1979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English