COMPARISON OF TEST CONFIGURATIONS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF GIIC : RESULTS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL ROUND ROBIN

This paper presents a summary of the tests performed within a VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards) round robin to examine the measurement of mode II interlaminar fracture toughness using four different test methods based on: End Notched Flexure (ENF), Stabilised End Notched Flexure (SENF), End Loaded Split (ELS), and four point End Notched Flexure (4ENF) carbon fibre reinforced epoxy specimens. Tests were performed by members of ESIS (European Structural Integrity Society), JIS (Japan Industrial Standards group) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials).