Elastic Work Factor of CLS Specimen and Determination of $G_c$ for Graphite/Peek Composites by Using the Elastic Work Factor

Abstract

It was shown in the previous study that the numerically derived elastic work factor for CLS specimen was independent of fiber direction for a unidirectional case. Also, it was proposed the elastic work factor could be used to determine energy release rate from a single test record. In the present study, elastic work factor was derived from a simple beam theory to investigate its dependence on material property and geometric condition. Also, the elastic work factor of CLS specimen was applied experimentally to determine critical energy release rate in order to prove its validity determining critical energy release rate from a single specimen. For this purpose, critical energy release rate determined using the elastic work factor was compared with that determined by the compliance method. The results showed that while elastic work factor is affected by and it is independent of fiber angle for a unidirectional case. It was also found that critical energy release rates determined by both methods are comparable each other, thus elastic work factor approach can be used to determine energy release rate from a single test specimen.