Scaling effect on the tensile properties of [±45/0/±45/0/±45] Polypropylene/Twaron laminates. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mena-Tun, J.L.; Martin-Barrera, C.; Gonzalez-Chi, P.I.
• Is Part Of: Polymer testing. Volume 43(2015:May)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Thermoplastic composites -- Scaling effect -- Balanced nonsymmetrical laminates; Polymers -- Testing -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Tests -- Périodiques; 620.1920287
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2015.02.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-9418

Abstract

Abstract: The effects of scaling on the mechanical response under tension of balanced nonsymmetrical laminates were investigated for a thermoplastic composite: Polypropylene reinforced with Twaron ® fibers. The composite baseline was an 8-ply laminate which consisted of unidirectional plies arranged in the sequence [±45/0/±45/0/±45]. The influence of specimen size on the tensile properties was studied for one (thickness), two (in-plane) and three (volume) dimensional scaling. The stress-strain curves suggested some variation in laminate behavior owing to the dimensional scaling; nevertheless, a further analysis with the classical lamination theory demonstrated that the observed effect was due to small variations in the fiber volume fraction of the laminates. It was concluded that the mechanical properties of these thermoplastic laminates do not exhibit scaling effects. The failure mechanism of the laminates was studied at macroscopic level; a scale effect of the fracture mechanism was observed.