The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an independent organization devoted to the development of standards.

American Society for Testing and Materials

Natural fibres: can they replace glass in fibre reinforced plastics?

In this work, natural fibres (sisal, kenaf, hemp, jute and coir) reinforced polypropylene composites were processed by compression moulding using a film stacking method. The mechanical properties of the different natural fibre composites were tested and compared. A further comparison was made with the corresponding properties of glass mat reinforced polypropylene composites from the open literature. Kenaf, hemp and sisal composites showed comparable tensile strength and modulus results but in impact properties hemp appears to out-perform kenaf. The tensile modulus, impact strength and the ultimate tensile stress of kenaf reinforced polypropylene composites were found to increase with increasing fibre weight fraction. Coir fibre composites displayed the lowest mechanical properties, but their impact strength was higher than that of jute and kenaf composites. In most cases the specific properties of the natural fibre composites were found to compare favourably with those of glass.

Natural fibres: Can they replace glass in fibre reinforced plastics ?

OUTPU T 29 OUTPU T 30 OUTPU T 31 OUTPU T 32 OUTPU T 25 OUTPU T 26 OUTPU T 27 OUTPU T 28 OUTPU T 21 OUTPU T 22 OUTPU T 23 OUTPU T 24 OUTPU T 17 OUTPU T 18 OUTPU T 19 OUTPU T 20 OUTPU T 13 OUTPU T 14 OUTPU T 15 OUTPU T 16 OUTPU T 9 OUTPU T 10 OUTPU T 11 OUTPU T 12 OUTPU T 5 OUTPU T 6 OUTPU T 7 OUTPU T 8 OUTPU T 1 OUTPU T 2 OUTPU T 3 OUTPU T 4 29 30 31 32 25 26 27 28 21 22 23 24 17 18 19 20 13 14 15 16 9

A User’s Guide

The impact resistance of composite materials — a review

INTRODUCTION Background Laminate Orientation Code Influences of Material Orthotropy on Experimental Characterization Typical Unidirectional Composite Properties References ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS Constitutive Relations Micromechanics Laminated Plate Theory St. Venant's Principle and End Effects in Composites Lamina Strength Analysis Laminate Strength Analysis Fracture Mechanics Concepts Strength of Composite Laminates Containing Holes References PROCESSING OF COMPOSITE LAMINATES Processing of Thermoset Composites Autoclave Processing of Thermoplastic Composites Determination of Volume Fractions of Fibers, Resin and Voids References TEST SPECIMEN PREPARATION, TEST EQUIPMENT, STRAIN AND DEFORMATION MEASUREMENTS Cutting the Composite Laminate Tabbing Materials Tab Bonding Suggested Tab Bonding Procedures Hinge Attachment for DCB and MMB Specimens Specimen Conditioning Strain and Displacement Measurements Testing Machines References LAMINA TENSILE RESPONSE The Need for Lamina Testing Introduction to Tensile Testing Primary Concerns Specimen Configurations and Test Procedures Data Reduction References LAMINA COMPRESSIVE RESPONSE Shear-Loading Test Methods End-Loading Test Methods Combined Loading Compression (CLC) Test Methods Compression Test Procedures Failure Modes General Data Reduction Backing out Unidirectional Lamina Strength from a Test of a Cross-Ply Laminate Summary of Compression Test Methods References LAMINA SHEAR RESPONSE Iosipescu Shear Test Method (ASTM D 5379) Two-Rail Shear Test Method (ASTM D 4255) Three-Rail Shear Test Method (ASTM D 4255) [+-45]ns Tension Shear Test Method (ASTM D 3518) Short Beam Shear Test Method (ASTM D 2344) Summary References LAMINA FLEXURAL RESPONSE Testing Configuration Three-Versus Four-Point Loading Specimen Preparation and Flexural Test Procedures Data Reduction References LAMINA OFF-AXIS TENSILE RESPONSE Deformation and Stress in Unconstrained Specimens Influence of End Constraint Off-Axis Tensile Strength Test Procedure Data Reduction References LAMINA THERMOELASTIC RESPONSE Temperature Gage Sensing System Temperature Compensation Measurement of Thermal Expansion Data Reduction References LAMINATE MECHANICAL RESPONSE Data Reduction for Stiffness Properties Laminate Strength Analysis Test Specimen Preparation Test Procedures Data Reduction Example of a Typical Analysis: Axial Tensile Response of a Laminate References LAMINATE THERMOELASTIC RESPONSE Preparation of Test Specimens and Measurement of Thermal Expansion Data Reduction Analysis of Thermoelastic Response References OPEN-HOLE TENSILE AND COMPRESSIVE STRENGTHS OF LAMINATES Point and Average Stress Criteria Test Specimen Preparation Tensile Test Procedure and Data Reduction Standardized Open-Hole Tension Test Method Standardized Open-Hole Compression Test Methods References CHARACTERIZATION OF DELAMINATION FAILURE Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) Test End-Notched Flexure (ENF) Test Four-Point Bend ENF (4ENF) Test Mixed-Mode Bending (MMB) Test Edge-Cracked Torsion (ECT) Test References Appendix A: Compliance and Stiffness Transformations and Matrix Operations Appendix B: Preparation of Panels and Test Specimens Appendix C: Sample Laboratory Report Appendix D: Unit Conversions Index

Experimental Characterization of Advanced Composite Materials

The end notched flexure (ENF) specimen is examined as a candidate for measuring interlaminar fracture toughness in skew symmetric loading. A simple design study for sizing the ENF specimen to minimize geometric nonlinear response and to avoid nonlinear material behavior or flexural failure is presented. Results indicate that interlaminar shear effects may be significant for tough resin systems requiring large thickness-to-length geometries. The influences of interlaminar shear deformation and friction between the crack surfaces on the strain energy release rate are examined.

On the Analysis and Design of the End Notched Flexure (ENF) Specimen for Mode II Testing

Structural and Failure Mechanics of Sandwich Composites

Analysis of Composite Materials

The effect of weave structure on the interlaminar fracture behavior of orthogonal woven fabric composite laminates has been examined. Crack propagation along the fill and weft yarns, respectively, was considered for plain, twill and 8H-satin glass/epoxy composites, and a 5H-satin carbon/epoxy composite. Fracture testing employed the mode I fracture DCB test specimen. Microscopic details of crack growth in the interply region were considered after fracture testing. The delamination resistance and the difference in fracture toughness between the fill and weft directions increased with increased weave index. Partial debonding of transversely oriented yarns contributed to the delamination resistance. Fracture of debonded fibers referred to as `fiber bridging' was observed in the twill and satin weave glass/epoxy composites, but not in the plain weave glass/epoxy and the 5H-satin weave carbon/epoxy composites. The interlacing of the yarns limited the extent of fiber bridging.

Leif A. Carlsson

Papers

Experimental Characterization of Advanced Composite Materials

On the Analysis and Design of the End Notched Flexure (ENF) Specimen for Mode II Testing

Structural and Failure Mechanics of Sandwich Composites

Analysis of Composite Materials

The effect of weave pattern and crack propagation direction on mode I delamination resistance of woven glass and carbon composites