ASTM Standards For Materials Testing

[ssenigla]

Hello,

I'm new to composite engineering and am looking for a recommendation of ASTM standard tests for determining the material properties of symmetric laminates. I need simple yet effective test procedures for determining the tensile and shear strengths of the laminate, but am a little intimidated by the scope of the standard itself. The fiber will be either aramid or carbon with an epoxy matrix in the proposed laminate. Thanks.

 

[kenvlach]

You can of course do a search of the ASTM standards at

http://www.astm.org

I suggest that you download
MIL-HDBK-17-1F
COMPOSITE MATERIALS HANDBOOK
VOLUME 1. POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES
GUIDELINES FOR CHARACTERIZATION
OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
as it is 586 pages on this subject, recent (June 2002), and utilizes a lot of ASTM test methods.

Get it at ASSIST-Quick Search

http://assist2.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/

Just enter MIL-HDBK-17 for the Document ID; there are several other Handbooks you may find useful.

Hope this helps,
Ken

 

[JJorgensen]

ASTM for tensile tests, D3039M. This should work for a symmetric laminate. As for shear, it depends on the orientation of the fibers. For instance, if you can orientate the fibers 45deg and prepare a sample much like you did for the tensile specimens, that will give you G12. Another approach, if you have the means, is to visit Wyoming test fixtures website and purchase an Iosipescu Shear Test Fixture. They start around $2500 but that is cheap if a lot of tests are needed. There are some restraints concerning the orientation of the fibers but it is much easier than a secondary bond grip strip. The ASTM for that is D5379M. Do not be intimidated by the ASTM. If you are still uneasy about testing, email me individually and I can offer you some documentation that will spell things out more clearly. Good luck!