The use of a three-point support flexural test to predict the stiffness ofanisotropic composite plates in bending

Anisotropic polymeric matrix composite discs supported on three points were subjected to a non-destructive bending test to study their behaviour in co mplex flexural loading situations. The results show that the flexural behav iour of the composites depends on several factors, such as fibre orientatio n, laminate stacking, surface waviness and moulding temperature. The experi mental data were compared with those obtained from the finite element progr am software ALGOR. Differences up to 13% were found between the experimenta l and simulated values of the flexural stiffness. In spite of that, it was concluded that the non-destructive test used is a useful tool to predict th e behaviour of anisotropic composites and to validate the results obtained from computer FEM analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.