Mechanical characterization of IM7/8551-7 carbon/epoxy under biaxial stress: (Final report)

This is the final report on an investigation to evaluate the mechanical response of Hercules IM7/8551-7 carbon/epoxy, which is a high strength, high elongation fiber and a high toughness resin system used in a prepreg form. The material characterization involved testing both laminate and lamina forms under a wide range of biaxial stress states. Tubular specimens were employed that have been designed to eliminate undesirable end effects, permitting uniform stress states to be achieved. Quasi-isotropic (90/+-45/0)/sub ns/laminates and (90)/sub 16T/ lamina specimens were loaded under combinations of internal pressure, axial load, and torsion. Both stiffness and strength data were obtained under these multiaxial stress conditions. The measured laminate stiffnesses correlated well using classical laminated plate theory, and that laminate failure occurred in the two separate modes of matrix cracking and fiber failure. Like the previously examined carbon/epoxy systems, laminate failure could be predicted by using a fiber failure criterion to identify the critical plies and critical load levels. It was found that either maximum fiber stress or fiber direction strain could be used as a failure criterion on a ply level. 16 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.