A new compression test fixture for unnotched or notched thin composite laminates

A new compression fixture suitable for testing relatively thin composite la minates with or without holes or notches is described and evaluated. This U CSB fixture comprises several features of detail that are different from th ose of the existing fixtures, such as the large, well-established Supplies of Advanced Compos ire Materials Association (SACMA) fixture. Both a descri ption and a rationale for such features are included together with compress ive strength data for notched and unnotched carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite (PMC) laminates obtained using the UCSB fixture. Comparisons drawn between open hole compression (OHC) strengths for quasi-i sotropic specimens tested with the UCSB fixture and with the SACMA fixture are shown to produce equivalent values. The series of experiments on OHC st rength discussed herein indicated that the maximum strength values were gro uped within 6% of the highest value for each test group.