DELAMINATION FORMATION AND DELAMINATION PROPAGATION OF COMPOSITE LAMINATES UNDER COMPRESSIVE FATIGUE LOADING

Fatigue tests of the smooth composite laminates and the notched composite laminates under compressive cyclic loading have been carried out. The damage mechanism is discussed and analyzed. Damage evolution is monitored using stiffness decay. From these tests, it is found that the initial delamination occurs at the free boundary of smooth specimens, or the notch boundary of notched specimens, subjected to the compression compression cyclic load. A point of view in relation to two phases of compression fatigue delamination of composites is proposed, namely, compression compression delamination consists of the delamination formation phase and the delamination propagation, and there is a “damage transition point” to separate this two phases. Furthermore, an empirical modulus degradation formula and its parameters fitting method are presented. According to the test data handling results, it is shown that this formula is univocal and can fit the test data conveniently. In addition, two kinds of new anti buckling devices are designed for these tests. At last, the E N curves, the D N curves and the S N curve of the smooth carbon fiber reinforced composite laminates of T300/648C are determined to predict the fatigue life of the notched composite laminate. And the E N curve of the notched specimens at the given load ratio R=10 and minimum load P min =-0.45kN is also measured to verify the estimated result of fatigue life.