Predicting the Residual Strength of Open-Hole (OH) Composite Specimens Subjected to Cyclic Loading

A procedure is reported that allows the prediction of the fatigue life and the residual strength of "open hole" composite specimens subjected to constant amplitude cyclic loadings. Based on a two-parameter phenomenological model explicitly accounting for the maximum applied stress, sigma(max), and the stress ratio, R, the procedure relies on a relatively small set of experimental fatigue life data. The approach reliability is checked in predicting the fatigue life and residual strength of AS4 carbon/epoxy 3k/E7K8 Plain Weave Fabric "open-hole" (OH) samples subjected to a very broad loading conditions from prevailing tension (R=0 and R=-0.2) to compression (R=5) to mixed tension/compression (R=-1) loadings.