Abstract
Experimental studies on fatigue behavior are usually conducted on servo-hydraulic testing machines that are expensive and have high maintenance costs. In this work, a much simpler testing machine was developed, intended mainly for delamination fatigue tests on composite materials. After a literature review on the methods and parameters of such tests, the machine was designed, and its parts manufactured and assembled into a fully operational testing machine. Additionally, the electrical components and the control and data acquisition software were also developed and implemented. Finally, several mode II delamination fatigue tests were conducted using the end-notched flexure test. The results were consistent with the well-known Paris law, which for composite materials relates the crack propagation rate to the strain-energy release rate range. Therefore, the developed machine seems to be an excellent alternative to the highly costly testing machines.
Highlights
High-performance composite materials are nowadays used in a wide range of structural applications, being a consolidated alternative to metals [1]
This paper describes a fatigue testing machine (FTM) developed for fatigue testing of composite materials
One of the spindles is coupled to the stepper motor
Summary
High-performance composite materials are nowadays used in a wide range of structural applications, being a consolidated alternative to metals [1]. In addition to their excellent mechanical properties and low specific weight, polymer matrix composites enable a more flexible design stage relative to conventional materials. It is possible to manufacture complex shapes in a wide range of dimensions. These advantages have led to increased applications in various industries, such as aeronautical, automotive, and sports [2]. In high-performance laminated composites, layers may separate, a failure mode that is known as delamination. Delamination resistance is analyzed in the scope of fracture mechanics
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