BEARING STRENGTH OF CARBON EPOXY COMPOSITE LAMINATES/

Fracture behavior of carbon/epoxy laminates under pin loading is studi ed experimentally and analytically. Effects of ratios of specimen widt h to hole diameter and edge distance to hole diameter on bearing stren gth are investigated. Characteristic length of the laminates obtained using the HK model is in good agreement with the experimental data. Th e larger the hole size induced, the lower the bearing strength measure d under pin loading. The bearing strength and failure mode could be pr edicted using the HK model and Zhang's analytical solution of stress d istribution around a pin load hole. Chamis' method for prediction of b earing strength is also considered to predict failure mode and bearing strength. A modification of Chamis' method is made using a factor of rupture. The bearing strength predicted by the modified method is reas onably close to the experimental data.