Average Stress-Strain Curves for Resin Matrix Composites

Abstract

There is a substantial government and industry cooperative effort to document the mechanical properties of advanced composites materials. As part of this effort the stress-strain properties for these materials are being measured. In this paper some initial results are presented. Average stress-strain curves are given for a number of resin-matrix composites reinforced with S2 Glass, AS4 carbon, and T300 carbon fibers and Kevlar 285-weave cloth. There are data for tension, compression, and in-plane shear. Individual curves are given for various environmental conditioning treatments before testing. A total of 43 separate stress-strain curves are presented in 20 figures. Analytical expressions for each of the curves are given with the appropriate constants. The majority of curves presented are discontinuous and are best described by two-part functions.