An automated testing machine for monitoring the evolution of fiber breaks

Abstract

A cooperative agreement between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Textile Research Institute/Princeton (TRI/Princeton) has resulted in the development of an automated tensile testing machine for determining the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) as determined by the single fiber fragmentation (SFF) test. The imaging capability of this new machine permits the archiving of data for additional analyses as new data reduction methods are developed and provides a framework for the sharing of fragmentation data among researchers. To keep pace with the changing directions of composite micromechanics research, the new machine was extended to obtaining archival data on fiber fragmentation in 2D multifiber arrays by utilizing a new fiber placement device that allows for the precise placement of these arrays within the dogbone specimen.