Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measurement of fatigue damage in composite materials

Fatigue-damage initiation sites in a composite material can be related to regions of high strain-energy density and can be monitored using nondestructive-testing techniques

  • Published:
Experimental Mechanics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Numerical results for the stress state around a circular hole in a [0/±45/0]s boron-epoxy plate under tensile loading are presented. This serves as a model for the initial stress state around the hole during fatigue loading. Comparison is drawn with experimental results for a fatigued specimen obtained from thermography and radiography. Using these results, an interpretation of the effects of the initial stress state on the thermal behavior and on failure initiation is given. This interpretation shows that the circumferential normal stresses are responsible for the initial heat generation and failure initiation in the fatigued specimen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

E 11,E 22,E 33 :

elastic moduli defined with respect to the lamina natural axes

G 12,G 13,G 23 :

shear moduli defined with respect to the lamina natural axes

\(\overline U\) :

far-field strain-energy density

U D :

distortional-strain-energy density

r,θ,z :

cylindrical coordinates of the plate with respect to the hole center

x,y,z :

rectangular coordinates of the plate with respect to the hole center

ν12,ν13,ν23:

Poisson's ratio defined with respect to lamina natural axes

\(\bar \sigma\) :

far-field normal stress

\(\sigma _{\theta \theta }\) :

circumferential normal stress

\(\tau _{\theta z}\) :

interlaminar shear stress

References

  1. Pipes, R. B. andPagano, N. J., “Interlaminar Stresses in Composite Laminates Under Uniform Axial Extension,”J. Comp. Matl.,4,538 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pipes, R. B. and Pagano, N. J., “Boundary Layer Effects in Composite Laminates,” ASCE Specialty Conf. Selection, Design and Fabrication of Composite Materials for Civil Engineering Structures, Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 13–14, 1972).

  3. Levy, A., Armen, H. and Whiteside, J., “Elastic and Plastic Interlaminar Shear Deformation in Laminated Composites Under Generalized Plane Stress,” Air Force 3rd Conf. Matrix Methods in Structural Mechanics, Wright-Patterson A.F.B., OH (Oct. 1971).

  4. Daniel, I. M., Rowland, R. D. and Whiteside, J. B., “Deformation and Failure of Boron-Epoxy Plate with Circular Hole,” ASTM Symp. Analysis of Test Methods for High Modulus Fibers and Composites, San Antonio, TX (April 12–13, 1972).

  5. Barker, R. M., Lin, F. T. and Dana, J. R., “Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Laminated Composites,” Natl. Symp. Computerized Structural Analysis, Washington, DC (March 1972).

  6. Dana, J. R., “Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Thick Laminated Composites-Including Interlaminar and Boundary Effects Near Circular Holes,”PhD Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Barker, R. M., Dana, J. R. and Pryor, C. W., “Three Dimensional Analysis of Stress Concentrations Near Holes in Laminated Composites,” J. Eng. Mech. Div., ASCE (June 1974).

  8. Pagano, N. J. andPipes, R. B., “The Influence of Stacking Sequence on Laminate Strength,”J. Comp. Matl.,5,50 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Marcus, L. A., Stinchcomb, W. W. andTurgay, H. M., “Fatigue Crack Initiation in a Boron-Epoxy Plate with a Circular Hole,”Technical Report VPI-E-74-6, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (Feb. 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Reifsnider, K. L. andWilliams, R. S., “Determination of Fatigue-related Heat Emission in Composite Materials,”Experimental Mechanics,14 (12),479–485 (Dec. 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Stinchcomb, W. W., Reifsnider, K. L., Marcus, L. A. andWilliams, R. S., “Effects of Cyclic Frequency on the Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials,”Technical Report VPI-E-73-25, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, Va (July 1973).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bell Telephone Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN

    L. A. Marcus

  2. Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061, Blacksburg, VA

    W. W. Stinchcomb (Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. L. A. Marcus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. W. Stinchcomb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

was formerly Graduate Research Assistant, Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Marcus, L.A., Stinchcomb, W.W. Measurement of fatigue damage in composite materials. Experimental Mechanics 15, 55–60 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02319737

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02319737

Keywords

Search

Navigation