Experimental investigation of the strain‐rate effects on the failure of composite materials with off‐axis tensile tests on unidirectional plies

The present study experimentally investigates the mechanical response of T700/M21 Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers subjected to coupled shear and transverse tension at intermediate strain rates ranging from 10−3 to 15 s−1. Off‐axis tension specimens with transverse and oblique tabs are used for the various tests. Moreover, the specimen aspect ratio is quite low, since dynamic tests are performed in this study. The axial stress–strain curves are successfully simulated using finite element simulations with a viscoelastic model. Based on these numerical simulations, specific stress correction factors are computed to take the effect of end constraints into account for such low aspect ratio specimens. Finally, an increase in the material strength with the strain rate is observed.