THE FAILURE OF FIBER COMPOSITES AND ADHESIVELY BONDED FIBER COMPOSITES UNDER HIGH-RATES OF TEST .3. MIXED-MODE-I II AND MODE-II LOADINGS/

The failure of fibre composites under high rates of test was studied i n detail, using a fracture mechanics approach to determine values of t he fracture energies. The present paper, Part III of the series, consi ders the fracture of two different fibre composite materials under mix ed-mode tensile and shear (i.e. mixed-mode I/II) and shear (i.e. mode II) loadings. Part I considered the experimental aspects of the mode I fracture of the fibre composite materials, and of adhesive joints. Pa rt II analysed the dynamic effects which are invariably associated wit h high-rate tests, and showed how these effects influence the observed behaviour of the test specimens.