Tensile Failure Characterization of Polymer Matrix Composites

초록

In this investigation, the failure behavior of glass fiber reinforced epoxy polymer matrix composites (PMCs) was characterized during tensile testing. The PMCs have been used for railway bogie materials application. Through tensile testing, the fracture initiated at the epoxy matrix, and the brittle failure mode was observed. In order to monitor tensile damage evolution of PMC sample, a high-speed infrared camera was used to measure surface temperature changes during tensile testing. Through the thermographic image analysis, crack initiation and propagation were qualitatively monitored. Moreover, the thermographic images were helpful to provide the information on fracture mode and mechanisms in PMC sample. In this investigation, an IR camera was used to facilitate a better understanding of damage evolution and failure mode of PMC materials during tensile testing.