Mode II interlaminar fracture behavior of fiber reinforced polyamide composites under static and dynamic loading conditions

Mode II interlaminar fracture tests of continuous fiber reinforced polyamid e-6 composites were carried out at a quasi-static and a dynamic loading rat e. Loading-rate dependence on the mode II interlaminar fracture toughness w as investigated, and two different kinds of the composites, carbon fiber cl oth reinforced polyamide-6 and glass fiber cloth reinforced polyamide-6, ex hibited different loading-rate dependencies on the fracture toughness. Micr omechanisms of the mode II interlaminar fracture were also studied using a scanning electron microscope. Loading-rate effects on the mode II interlami nar fracture behavior of the composites are discussed on the basis of the e xperimental results.