1. Testing Methods for Composites
Yiping Qiu

2. Properties of Composites
Mechanical properties
Tensile
Compression
Bending
Shear
Impact

3. Properties of Composites
Physical Properties
Thermal
Electric
Environmental
Dimensional Stability

4. Mechanical Testing Tensile test Purpose of tensile test
To determine the strength, moduli and Poison’s ratio of a composite
For a unidirectional composite, Ex, Ey, Es and nxy
To determine the energy absorption of a composite
It can also be used to assess fatigue properties by cyclic loading of a specimen

5. Tensile testing Single fiber tensile test Fiber tow or yarn test
Composite tensile test

6. Single fiber tensile test
Purpose
Sample preparation
Testing condition
Sample size or number of specimens
Analysis of results

7. Yarn tensile test Purpose Sample preparation Testing conditions
Yarn as is
Resin impregnated
Testing conditions
Sample size
Analysis of results

8. Composite Test Sample size Specimen shape Protection of specimen ends
Testing devices:
Machine
Load cell
Strain gauge
Testing condition

9. Shear test Interlaminar shear: interlaminar bonding strength
In-plane shear: shear stiffness and strength

10. Interlaminar shear test
Testing method
Testing device

11. Bending test
Three point bending
Four point bending