Journal article
Fatigue characterization of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) foam core sandwich composite using the G-control method
This paper presents experimental results from cyclic crack propagation tests performed on sandwich specimens with glass/epoxy face sheets and Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) foam cores using the G-controlled cyclic energy release rate (ΔG) test procedure. The face material was tested in tension, compression and shear to determine in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and shear modulus.
These properties were then used in an analytical model of the mixed-mode bending sandwich specimen to calculate compliance and energy release rate. Finite element analysis was used to determine the mode-mixity of the crack loading. Experimental crack growth cyclic tests were carried out on pre-cracked mixed-mode bending sandwich specimens with H45, H100 and H160 PVC foam cores under two mode-mixities (mode I and mode II dominant).
Post-mortem analysis was performed on tested specimens, highlighting the influence of mode mixity and foam density on the crack path. Crack propagation diagrams showing da/dN versus ΔG curves were obtained to establish the Paris-Erdogan relation for each material combination tested at the two mode-mixities.
Results showed constant crack growth rates for all the materials tested and revealed the influence on mode-mixity on crack propagation speed and foam density (higher foam density, slower crack propagation).
Language: | English |
---|---|
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Year: | 2016 |
Pages: | 374-394 |
ISSN: | 15307972 and 10996362 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1177/1099636215603049 |
ORCIDs: | Berggreen, Christian |
crack propagation energy release rate fracture characterization interface