COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF STRAIN-RATE EFFECTS ON MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF GLASS-FIBER-REINFORCED THERMOSET MATRIX COMPOSITES

The tensile dynamic behaviour of glass fibre-reinforced phenolic and p olyester resins has been determined in order to find the influence of strain rate on the mechanical properties of composite materials produc ed by the resin transfer moulding (RTM) and pultrusion processes. Data and experimental test systems from the literature are analysed. A new specimen design is created and validated using drop-weight dynamic te sts. The dynamic elastic modulus and strength tend to increase in an i mportant ratio for the majority of the materials studied. The shear mo dulus measured with off-axis and +/-45 degrees coupons produces differ ent effects as a function of strain rate. The influence of the reinfor cement structure is emphasized and shown to be effective. Copyright (C ) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited