Effect of tab design on the strain distribution of a biaxially loaded cruciform composite specimen

In general, composite laminates are developing multiaxial stress states [1]. To get an accurate representation of the behaviour of composite materials in a structure, tests under a uniaxial stress state do not satisfy. Therefore biaxial testing has to be considered. Despite the large demand for this experimental biaxial information there is little existing experimental capability to evaluate the multi-axial response of composite materials [2].