Abstract
The ultimate tensile strength of carbon/epoxy laminated composites in the through-thickness direction at deformation rates up to nearly 1 m/s is determined using the split Hopkinson bar. Two carbon/epoxy laminated composites (i.e., unidirectional and cross-ply) with almost the same thickness are tested at room temperature. Waisted cylindrical specimens are machined such that the direction of the tension loading is perpendicular to the fiber direction of the laminates. The effects of deformation rate and reinforcement geometry on the ultimate tensile strength are examined. It is shown that the ultimate tensile strength increases significantly with increasing deformation rate. The ultimate tensile strength of the unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminated composite is slightly higher than that of the cross-ply one at low and high rates of deformation.
