July 2021 Composites Blog
July 1, 2021
Solving the Composite Testing Puzzle
Testing composites can be a challenge
Testing polymer matrix composites (PMC) presents many different challenges requiring more complex testing than more traditional, structural materials. While composites deliver greater performance and flexibility than traditional materials, it is more difficult to produce high-quality test data for development, design, and quality control. Composites World has put together a 3-part series looking at the challenges of testing composites and some potential ways to solve them.
Part 1 of the series looks at the standards for composites and the different types of testing, including tensile, compression, shear, compression after impact (CAI), fatigue, high-rate, and other mechanical tests like flexure and inter-laminar fracture toughness tests. Part 2 of the series discusses the aspects of strain measurements and the latest options for measuring it when testing composites, including strain gauges, clip-on extensometers, automatic extensometers, noncontact video extensometers, and full-field strain measurement using integrated digital image correlation (DIC) software paired with a noncontact video extensometer. Finally, in part 3, the series talks about the recommended system requirements to test composites accurately and efficiently, including the test environment, grips and fixtures, alignment, and test machine software. You can use these links to read the complete series: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Part 1 of the series looks at the standards for composites and the different types of testing, including tensile, compression, shear, compression after impact (CAI), fatigue, high-rate, and other mechanical tests like flexure and inter-laminar fracture toughness tests. Part 2 of the series discusses the aspects of strain measurements and the latest options for measuring it when testing composites, including strain gauges, clip-on extensometers, automatic extensometers, noncontact video extensometers, and full-field strain measurement using integrated digital image correlation (DIC) software paired with a noncontact video extensometer. Finally, in part 3, the series talks about the recommended system requirements to test composites accurately and efficiently, including the test environment, grips and fixtures, alignment, and test machine software. You can use these links to read the complete series: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
