Simplified compression bending test method for advanced composites

In the past, one of the authors has proposed a new bending test method, nam ely a compression bending test. The test was based on buckling and is suita ble for advanced composites because the undesirable stress concentration fr om the loading nose is removed. The original paper dealt with the measureme nt of the bending strength and successive papers with the methodology used to measure the bending modulus. In the present paper, a new device has been designed by which the total system is drastically simplified. In addition, systematic comparison of all methods has been carried out. During a series of experiments, the superiority of the present compression bending test me thod was demonstrated. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.