Tensile Strength of Notched Composites

Abstract

Two postulates on the strength of notched laminated composites are compared to experimental data. The first concerns the use of the fracture strength of angle ply composites to estimate the fracture strength of lami nates of several angle plys. The second concerns a macromechanics ex planation of the notch size effect on static strength for circular notches. The results of the comparisons are good but indicate the necessity of more complete and careful experimental data to fully verify any postulated strength theory. However the results shown do indicate that simple analytical models may be used by the designer.