Experimental shear testing campaign and FEM analysis for characterization of Aerospace composite laminates

The key reasons behind the continuous research regarding the material science in the aerospace industry are to find the better materials. These materials have suitable characteristics such as low density, good stiffness, good resistance to abrasion, impact and good corrosion resistance. The objective of this research is the discovery of new materials that offer specific qualities that differ from typical traditional metal alloys, ceramics and polymers. One specific kind of materials where these required appreciable properties can be found is called composites. The composite materials used in engineering are typically constituted by continuous fibres embedded in a matrix, whose function is to hold together the fibres that make up the resistant element. In nature there are many examples of this type of materials are visible. For example, in trees that are made of long cellulose fibres held together by lignin: just as reinforced concrete, created by the expert hands of man, is also defined as composite material. The main cause for the introduction of composite materials in aerospace engineering lies in the possibility of constructing very resistant, highly rigid and low weight structures. This thesis dealt with the work of certification of the mechanical properties of materials used in aerospace, through a campaign of experimental tests in accordance with the guidelines to follow the regulations issued by the main certification bodies like ASTM. And finally, analyse the specimens which tested in the laboratory used by ANSYS software and verify the numerical and experimental accuracy of mechanical properties and characteristics. There are many other tests were carried out from Aerospace Structure Laboratory, University of Pisa on carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites. So, this thesis also performed a statistical comparison between the results obtained from current thesis with previous author’s thesis of shear tests on various batch/panel composites