In-plane shear testing of thick-section pultruded FRP composites using a modified Arcan fixture

Rani El-Hajjar, Rami Haj-Ali*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

A modified Arcan fixture with butterfly specimen geometry is designed to measure the in-plane shear response of thick-section pultruded FRP composites. The objective of the proposed testing method is to determine both the material shear stiffness and its non-linear stress-strain response up to ultimate stress. The tested pultruded specimens include two alternating layers in the form of a unidirectional glass roving and continuous filament mat layers. Finite element models for the butterfly specimen are generated to examine the effects of the notch radius and material orthotropy on the uniformity and distribution of stresses in the gage area. Butterfly geometry with a blunted notch and roving orientation parallel to the applied load is found to have a uniform shear stress in the gage section. The axial-shear response is measured under different biaxial stress states by varying the angle of the applied load. The tested non-linear shear stress-strain responses compare favorably to results previously obtained from off-axis compression tests used to calibrate a multi-axial constitutive model for this material. Results from strain gage and Infrared thermography measurements provide confirmation for the effectiveness of the fixture and the specimen geometry.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)421-428
Number of pages8
JournalComposites Part B: Engineering
Volume35
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2004
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Civil and Mechanical Systems9876080
National Science Foundation

    Keywords

    • A. Layered structures
    • B. Thermal properties
    • D. Mechanical testing
    • E. Pultrusion

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