A theoretical method was given for estimating the tensile and compressive strengths of some types of glass fabric reinforced plastic laminates (GFRP laminates). Considerably large difference was observed between the theoretical and experimental data. It was clarified that the difference of the tensile strength is due to the cracks which nucleated in a bandle of flulaments in the perpendicular direction to the tensile force. Because of the stress concentration due on cracks, the tensile strength of a yarn exactly calculated must be about 26% less than that of the actual value. The buckling strength of a woven yarn must be taken into consideration to predict an accurate compressive strength of a GFRP. Combined stress tests on plain weave GFRP were carried out systematically by using a new type of testing machine capable of applying a combined load on a tubular test specimen. Failure criteria of a laminated plate derived from the maximum stress theory end the strain energy theory (Hoffman's brittle failure criterion) were discussed based on the experimental results. The applicability of Gol'denblat's criterion which assumes a laminated plate as a uniform anisotropic body was also discussed.
The toroidal membrane diaphragm is desirable to be originally formed in a rotatory symmetric structure of composite rubber sheet from the view point of its strength and the working functions. Some trials for such a construction of diaphragm had been presented, but they could not have been in practical use because of their structural complexity. In this study, a quasi-isotropic diaphragm made of triaxially woven fabric was examined experimentally in the stroke properties and fatigue strength. Then, a non-linear analysis on the equilibrium shape and the wrinkling phenomenon of the pressurized membrane diaphragm was given. A good agreement between the theoretical and the experimental results was obtained.