The Relationship Between Tensile Strength and Shear Strength in Composite Materials Subjected to High Strain Rates

Abstract

This paper contributes to understand the dynamic behavior of a woven carbon/epoxy composite subjected to tensile and shear impact loading in the orthogonal direction by using the tensile and torsional split-Hopkinson bars, respectively. The influences of the equivalent strain rates on the tensile and shear yield stress and strength are found. The yield stress ratio and strength ratio between tensile and shear loading on this composite are compared at a range of the equivalent strain rates from 500 s−1 to 3000 s−1. The relationship between the strain rates and these ratios are established. The failure mechanism is analyzed by microscope observation on the rupture surface of the specimens.