Fatigue testing may be performed at multiple points during the design of a composite structure. A focus on small-specimen level fatigue test methods, however, suggests a need for more testing method standardization.
After several years of research and development, the Single Cantilever Beam test method is in the process of standardization within ASTM's Committee D30 on Composites.
Standardized mechanical testing methods abound, but they often focus on composites with unidirectional layers. Here are some modifications to common test methods for testing textile composites.
Additional testing of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) is often performed in alternate environmental conditions to determine properties related to temperature and moisture sensitivity.
CW columnist Dan Adams compares three V-notched shear test configurations used to measure the shear stiffness and shear strength of composite materials.