Thick Composite Properties and Testing Methods

In most application to date reinforced carbon fiber composites have been used in relatively smaller thickness, less than 10mm thick and essentially for carrying in-plane loads. As a result, design and testing procedures were developed which reflected the need to understand the in-plane response of the material. recently, engineers and designers have begun to use reinforced carbon fiber composites in thicker sections, where an understanding of the through-thickness response is of para-mount importance in designing reliable structures, particularly where the through-thickness strength has a controlling influence on the overall structural strength of the component. In this thesis tests will be done on carbon fiber non-crimp fabric (NCF) which will be loaded in compression and shear and elastic moduli and strength will be evaluated. In characterizing the through-thickness mechanical properties of a composite, the objective is to produce a state of stress in the test specimen which is uniform and will repeatedly measure the true properties with accuracy. In this study, specimens were machined from two blocks of thick (~20 mm) laminates of glass/epoxy and NCF carbon fiber infused with vinylester and tested in compression, and shear