Mechanical Testing of Composites
2003, P. Joyce
Tests Accepted by Mil-Hdbk-17Test Category ASTM Prepreg tests
Resin content Volatiles content Resin flow Resin gel time Fiber
areal weight Moisture content Tack HPLC IR DMA (RDS) DSC D2539,
C613 D5300 D3530 D3531 D3532 D3776 D4019 --E1252, E168 D4065, D4473
E1356 2003, P. Joyce
Source of Test Method SACMA RM 23, RM 24 -RM 22 RM 19 RM 23, RM
24 --RM 20 -RM 19 RM 25
Tests Accepted by Mil-Hdbk-17Test Category ASTM Lamina physical
tests Moisture conditioning Fiber volume Resin content Void content
Density Cured ply thickness Glass transition temperature (dry)
Glass transition temperature (wet) CTE, out-of-plane CTE, in-plane
Equilibrium moisture content Moisture diffusivity Thermal
diffusivity Specific heat D5229 D3171, D2734 D3171, D2734 D2584
D792, D1505 -D4065 -E831 D696, E228 D5229 D5229 E1461 2003, P.
Joyce E1269 RM 11 RM 10 RM 10 --RM 10 RM 18 RM 18 --RM 11 ---Source
of Test Method SACMA
Tests Accepted by Mil-Hdbk-17Test Category ASTM Lamina/Laminate
Mechanical Tests 0/Warp tension 90/Fill tension 0/Warp compression
90/Fill compression In-plane shear Interlaminar shear Short beam
shear Flexure Open-Hole Compression D3039 D3039, D5450 D3410, D5467
D3410, D5449 D3518, D5448, D5379 D5379 D2344 -draft 2003, P.
Joyce
Source of Test Method SACMA
RM 4, RM 9 RM 4, RM 9 RM 1, RM 6 RM 1, RM 6 RM 7 -RM 8 -RM 5
Tests Accepted by Mil-Hdbk-17Test Category ASTM Lamina/Laminate
Mechanical Tests (cont.) Open-Hole Tension Single shear bearing
Double-shear bearing Compression after impact Mode I fracture
toughness Mode II fracture toughness Tension/tension fatigue
Tension/compression fatigue D5766 draft draft draft D5528 draft
D3479 -RM 5 --M2 ----Source of Test Method SACMA
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D638 Tensile Properties of Plastics dogbone
specimen
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D3039 Tensile Properties of PMC
MaterialsUsed for most aerospace composites
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D695 Compressive Properties of Rigid
Plastics (1942) Uses an untabbed, dogboned, flat specimen
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingModified D695 Compression Test MethodUses a
straight sided specimen Tabbed for strength (gage length to short
to instrument using strain gages) Untabbed for modulus No ASTM
standard governing this method Defined in Boeing Specification
Support Standard (BSS 7260, 1982) and SACMA Recommended Test Method
(SRM 1-88, 1988)
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingModified ASTM D695 - Mil-Hdbk-17 interprets this
technique to be for 0 direction properties of unidirectional
coupons, and 0 and 90 properties of fabric coupons only (and then
only when unit cell size of weave or braid is small.)
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D3410 Compressive Properties of PMC
Materials by Shear LoadingStandard for high modulus carbon fiber
composites (1980s) 0.5 gage length for strain gage sometimes
buckles. Tab failure also problematic.
Celanese fixture 2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D3410 Compressive Properties of PMC
Materials by Shear LoadingStandard for high modulus carbon fiber
composites (1980s) 0.5 gage length for strain gage sometimes
buckles. Tab failure also problematic.
IITRI fixture 2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D6641 Compressive Properties using CLC
Fixture (2001)Evolved out of WTF ELSS fixture Uses straight sided,
untabbed specimen Not recommended for unidirectional composites
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D2344 Short-Beam Strength of PMC
MaterialsLow cost QC test Material screening
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D5379 Shear Properties of Composite
Materials by the V Notched Beam Method (Iosipescu)
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate Testing(Iosipescu method)
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D3518 In-plane Shear (IPS) Uses 45 laminate
to extract shear properties. Strictly a shear design allowable Not
used for QC
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D790 Flexural Properties of Un-Reinforced
and Reinforced Plastics
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D6484 Open Hole Compressive Strength of PMC
Laminates (1999) After Boeing Specification Support Standard BSS
7260, also described in SACMA Recommended Method SRM 3-88.
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingASTM D6742 Filled Hole Tensile/Compressive
Strength ew N of PMC Laminates (2002)
2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingCreep testingCreep is defined as the change in a
property over time when subjected to a constant forcing function.
Creep should be considered if the end useinvolves high stress in
the matrix dominated direction high temperature or exposure to a
harsh chemical environment 2003, P. Joyce
Laminate TestingCreep is especially important in composites with
a thermoplastic matrix, particularly as Ts Tg Creep is expected to
be small in thermoset matrix composites, due to cross-linking.
Creep testing is not used to provide primary design data, rather
designs should be checked for creep deformation. 2003, P. Joyce
Testing Fabric-Reinforced Textile CompositesRefer to ASTM D 6856
Standard Guide for . . . Discusses special testing considerations
for textile composites.
2003, P. Joyce
Adhesives TestingASTM D1002 Single Lap Shear is the most common
& industry standard test for:QC in-process inspection to verify
mixing, cure, and surface preparation. Screening for materials
selection.
five finger Al specimens
2003, P. Joyce
Specimens machined from composite laminate
Adhesives TestingASTM D3528 Double Lap Shear minimizes peel,
results in higher, more consistent shear strength.
Type A specimen Type B specimen 2003, P. Joyce
Adhesives TestingASTM D3165 Notched Lap ShearQC for large
laminated assemblies (voids) Compatibility of different resin
systems
2003, P. Joyce
Adhesives TestingASTM D1780 Adhesive Creep Apply constant load
and measure deflection of scribe marks.
2003, P. Joyce
Adhesives TestingASTM D1876 Tee Peel Requires two flexible
adherends (Al)
2003, P. Joyce
Adhesives TestingASTM D3167 Floating Roller (Bell) Peel One
rigid, one flexible adherend
2003, P. Joyce
Sandwich TestingASTM C297 Flatwise Tensile Strength of Sandwich
Constructions (used as workmanship verification, unless very
reliable NDE being used.)
2003, P. Joyce
Sandwich TestingASTM C393 Long Beam Flexure4 point bending
produces uniform bending moment in the center section. Specimen is
sized to induce compression failure in upper skin, not core shear.
Also demonstrates that skin to core strength is adequate to achieve
designed facesheet compression stress.
Paste Photo Here
2003, P. Joyce
Sandwich TestingASTM C393 Beam FlexurePerformed in addition to
FWT on co-cured sandwich if rigorous structural requirement.
Accounts for any knockdown from wrinkling/dimpling. Usually yields
lower strength & modulus than solid facesheet tension or
compression test.
2003, P. Joyce
Sandwich TestingMil-Std 401B Core ShearUsed to verify core
splice performance. Can also be used to compare different surface
preparations. Standard configuration uses0.062 Al facesheets 8.1
pcf Al core
2003, P. Joyce
Sandwich TestingASTM D1781 Climbing Drum PeelUsed for
characterization of adhesives for Al facesheet construction
Workmanship test
2003, P. Joyce
ReferencesCourse Notes, Test Methods for Composite Materials,
Adams, D. (1991) Mil-Hdbk-17 Composite Materials Handbook
Mil-Hdbk-23A Structural Sandwich Composites Wyoming Test Fixtures,
Product Catalog No. 106 (2000) ASTM Annual Book of Standards (2001)
Engineering Mechanics of Composite Materials, Daniel, I.M. and
Ishai, O. (1994)
2003, P. Joyce
