EFFECT OF STRAIN-RATE AND SPECIMEN GEOMETRY ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF WOVEN GLASS-REINFORCED EPOXY LAMINATES

Two woven glass-reinforced epoxy laminates have been tested in compres sion at a quasi-static rate, using a specially constructed compression testing rig, and an impact rate of strain, using the split Hopkinson- bar technique. Two different designs of specimen were tested at each r ate, a solid cylinder as commonly used with the compression version of the Hopkinson-bar and a thin strip, waisted in the thickness directio n, as recommended for the compression testing of laminated composites. The effect of the specimen design on the observed mechanical response is discussed.