Tensile behavior of basalt fiber reinforced composites at high strain rates

The aim of this paper is to study the tensile behavior of basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composites at high strain rates. Reference quasi-static tensile experiments were carried out at strain rates of 0.003 and 0.03 s-1, while high strain rate experiments were performed using the split Hopkinson tensile bar technique at a strain rate of 130 s-1. The digital image correlation technique was used to measure the full strain fields on the surface of the samples for both quasi-static and high strain rate experiments. Results showed that the tested basalt/epoxy composite is strain rate sensitive in both the warp and the fill directions. With the increase in strain rates, the maximum strength increased by up to 35% of its low strain rate value, and the maximum strain increased by up to 41% of its low strain rate value. Analysis of full strain fields indicated that homogenous strains were developed within the gauge section during the progression of the tests