From quasi-static to dynamic: Experimental study of mechanical and fracture behaviour of epoxy resin

Epoxy polymers are extensively used in various engineering applications such as aerospace, defence, sports, automotive etc. This article focuses on the in-depth mechanical characterisation of EPOFINE®-1564, a Bisphenol-A-based liquid epoxy resin under various loading conditions. To predict the tensile and compressive behaviour of the representative epoxy resin, quasi-static experiments were performed in the range of 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻² s⁻¹ on Universal testing machine (UTM) while the dynamic experiments were conducted using Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) for high strain rates (1136–2833 s⁻¹). In this study, 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was also used to evaluate the specimen's full-field displacement profile over a wide range of strain rates. Analysis of various mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, yield strength, and ultimate strength, revealed that the epoxy polymer is strain rate dependent within the considered strain rate range. For understanding the fracture behaviour, three-point bend (TPB) experiments were also carried out for both quasi-static (1–10 mm/min) as well as dynamic (10–15 m s^-1) regimes. Dynamic fracture experiments were performed using the modified Hopkinson Pressure Bar (MHPB). The fracture toughness was determined through load vs crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD). Fracture toughness was found to increase with the displacement rate due to the significant plastic deformation under quasi-static range. Conversely, it was found to decrease under dynamic loading because of absence of plastic deformation resulting in brittle fracture. The fracture surface of the specimen was examined through a high magnification digital microscope.