Paper number 624

STRENGTH AND FATIGUE LIFE OF CARBON/EPOXY LAMINATES UNDER BIAXIAL LOADING

C. S. Lee, W. Hwang, H. C. Park, and K. S. Han

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Korea

Summary

The static and fatigue tests of cross-ply carbon/epoxy composite tubes were performed under combined axial and torsional loading up to failure. Strength properties were evaluated as a function of biaxial ratio. The fatigue life predictions previously proposed have been modified in the use of reference modulus concept and stress function. Using the cumulative damage concept, fatigue life prediction on composite laminates has been made for biaxial stress condition as well as uniaxial stress condition. It was shown that the proposed theory has wide applicability as well as has good agreement with experimental data.

Keywords

carbon-matrix composites, biaxial loading, damage, fatigue life prediction, strength, fatigue modulus.