Experimental Observation on Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Symmetric Angle-Ply CFRP Laminate

Cyclic zero-tension tests for symmetric angle-ply CFRP laminated specimens were carried out to investigate the low cycle fatigue behavior of graphite/epoxy and graphite/PEEK composites. Two types of stacking sequences were tested: [+θ/-θ]4s (Distributed ply) and [+θ4/-θ4]s (Blocked ply), where θ was 30o or 45o. Stress-strain curves of specimens under cyclic loadings were obtained by means of an extensometer. A mechanical ratcheting, which means progressive increase in plastic strain at each cycle, was observed on the cyclic stress-strain curves. Comparing the stress-strain curve of static tensile test with one of the cyclic zero-tension test, we made the assumption that the fatigue failure occurred when the ratcheting strain by cyclic loadings reached the static failure strain. Results of an ultrasonic scanning test revealed that the distributed ply specimens differed from the blocked ply specimens in an internal fatigue damage progress.