II Interlaminar Fracture Tests

The pure mode II interlaminar fracture testing can be performed using both the end notched flexure (ENF) specimen (Russell and Street, 1984, 1985) and the end loaded split (ELS) specimen (Corleto and Bradley, 1987 Prel et al.. 1989) (Fig 3.32). 

It should be noted that a mode 11 crack-resistance R-curve may also be obtained for some fiber-matrix systems (Vu-Khanh, 1987). In conjunction with the mode 1 R-curve the additional information of a mode 11 R-curve will be of great use to the composite design engineers. This is increasingly the view of the ESIS task group on delamination crack growth resistance. 

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Fig. 3.32. Schematic illustrations of mode II interlaminar fracture test specimens (a) ENF speeimen ...

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