Abstract

The aim of this work is the development of a new test methodology for the characterization of delamination of composites under mode III of fracture and dynamic stress (fatigue). The phenomenon of delamination is one of the main failure mechanisms in composite materials configured by stacking several layers. The mode of fracture that has been studied is mode III to fatigue, with the difficulty that its simulation implies. The test device employed, which allows subjecting to the laminates to this loading mode, has already been previously tested in static tests. Characterization tests were performed on two different materials, both with different matrices and carbon fibers. An analytical model developed for the case of static fracture has been used and a statistical analysis of the results obtained has been carried out. A fractography of the fracture surface was also performed in order to determine the characteristics of this type of fracture in a dynamic regime.