Cryogenic mode II interlaminar fracture toughness of glass-cloth/epoxy laminates by end notched flexure testing and finite element method

Experiments and analysis on woven glass-epoxy laminate end notched flexure (ENF) specimens are presented. The ENF tests were performed at room tempera ture (R.T.), liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) and liquid helium temperatu re (4 K) to evaluate the effect of temperature and geometrical variations o n the Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness. In order to verify the failu re mechanisms, fracture surface examinations were performed on a scanning e lectron microscope. A finite element model was used to perform the delamina tion crack analysis. The results of the finite element analysis are utilize d to supplement the experimental data.