HIGH-STRAIN-RATE BEHAVIOR OF SEVERAL TYPES OF EPOXY-BASED COMPOSITES

The mechanical behavior of several types of epoxy-matrix composites wi th uni-and two-directional reinforcement and one quasi-isotropic sinta ctic foam plastic with embedded hollow glass microspheres, subjected t o dynamic loading at strain rates up to 100-1000 1/s, is studied. For fiber reinforced composites, the ultimate strength and strain increase up to 2-2.5 times relative static values while the elastic modulus al ong the filaments is independent of the strain rate. For a foam plasti c, not only its compression strength and modulus of elasticity increas e as the strain-rate increases but its fracture and the stress-strain behavior change too.