301 Cryogenic End Notched Flexure Testing and Finite Element Analysis of Glass-Cloth/Epoxy Laminates

Abstract

An experimental and analytical investigation in cryogenic Mode II interlaminar fracture behavior and toughness of SL-E woven glass-epoxy laminates was conducted. End notched flexure (ENF) tests were performed at room temperature (R.T.), liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) and liquid helium temperature (4 K) to evaluate the effect of temperature and geometrical variations on the Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness. The fracture surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy to verify the fracture mechanisms. A finite element model was used to perform the delamination crack analysis. The results of the finite element analysis are utilized to supplement the experimental data.