Abstract
Tensile-tensile fatigue tests were conducted on carbon fiber reinforced high temperature matrix, bismaleimide cross-ply laminates to clarify the effect of 90° ply thickness on the transverse crack behavior. First cracking cycles were larger in laminates with thinner 90°plies, and transverse crack density became smaller in laminates with thicker 90°plies. The method to predict the transverse crack density was derived based on Nairn's method. Predictions were compared with experimental results to evaluate the effectiveness of the present analysis. Prediction of first cracking cycles based on the fracture mechanics is found to be necessary for quantitative evaluation of transverse cracking.
