AN IMPROVED TECHNIQUE FOR COMPRESSION TESTING OF UNIDIRECTIONAL FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTICS - DEVELOPMENT AND RESULTS

In the current paper the measurement of compressive strength for unidi rectional composites is discussed. The development of an improved meth od is presented. Data for carbon fibre-reinforced plastic obtained fro m several techniques are compared against the new method. Details of t he improved fixture and various parametric studies associated with its development are given. The importance of specimen design is highlight ed and a way of minimizing tab-tip stress concentrations suggested. Th e new approach is seen to give a compressive strength between 28 and 6 1% higher than current methods, for the XAS/914C material system used here.