Mechanical Properties of G-10

Glass–Epoxy Composite

K. Ravi-Chandar and S. Satapathy

Institute for Advanced Technology
The University of Texas at Austin

Institute for Advanced Technology

The University of Texas at Austin

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August 2007 Technical Report (Sept. 2005-Sept. 2006)

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Mechanical Properties of G-10 Glass–Epoxy Composite
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6. AUTHOR(S) DAAD17-01-D-0001 DO 0012

K. Ravi-Chandar and S. Satapathy

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The University of Texas at Austin
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US Army Research Laboratory
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13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

The mechanical properties of G10 glass-epoxy composites were determined in compression and tension tests.

14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES

G10, glass-epoxy composite 12

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 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF G10 GLASS-EPOXY COMPOSITE
K. Ravi-Chandar1 and S. Satapathy2

The University of Texas at Austin

College of Engineering1 and Institute for Advanced Technology2

The mechanical properties of G10 glass-epoxy composites were determined in compression

and tension tests. From weight and volume measurements, the volume fraction of glass was
estimated to be about 56 percent. The mechanical property results are summarized in Tables I
and II. The samples were cut from sheet stock with z-axis along the thickness direction.
Appendix A shows the sample dimensions. The modulus values were determined by fitting a
straight line to the initial linear portion of the stress-strain curves shown in Figs. 1–5. For the
compression test, the strain was calculated from the displacement of the crosshead divided by its
gage length; these are plotted in Figs. 1–3. The modulus was calculated after determining that
the compliance of the loading system was 1.57 × 10−8 m/N. However, in the tension tests, a clip
gage extensometer with a gage length of 1 inch was used. Therefore, the modulus measurements
from the tension test are the correct values, while the modulus from the compression tests may
be biased with the compliance of the loading system. Photographs of failed compression
specimens are shown in Figs. 6 and 7. A similar characteristic failure pattern with a crack at a 45
degree angle is observed. The only difference between the X, Y, and Z was the peak stress at
which it cracked.

Table I. Compressive Properties

Standard Standard
Young’s Peak Average Average
Deviation of Deviation of
Modulus Stress Modulus Peak Stress
Modulus Peak Stress
GPa MPa GPa MPa GPa MPa
X-1 17.47 368 18.8 365 1.26 4
X-2 18.89 368
X-3 19.97 360
Y-1 19.90 302 18.9 300 0.89 5
Y-2 18.33 294
Y-3 18.39 303
Z-1 7.32 437 7.83 440 0.87 7
Z-2 7.33 436
Z-3 8.83 448

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 Table II. Tension Properties
Standard Standard
Young’s Peak Average Average
Deviation of Deviation of
Modulus Stress Modulus Peak Stress
Modulus Peak Stress
GPa MPa GPa MPa GPa MPa
X-t-1 18.63 223 18.83 233 0.22 10
X-t-2 18.80 244
X-t-3 19.06 232
Y-t-1 19.02 319 19.26 310 1.15 9
Y-t-2 18.25 301
Y-t-3 20.50 310

Results from the high strain-rate tests in a split-Hopkinson compression experiment are
summarized in Table III. Figs. 11–13 show the results of stress-strain obtained from the
Hopkinson bar experiments with aluminum bars. Reliable reflected signals were not always
obtained since the specimen began to crumble. Therefore, estimates of both the strain rates and
strains are difficult to obtain; it is accurate to indicate that the strain levels were in the order of
103 s-1. Dynamic modulus estimates from these tests are also not likely to be accurate and hence
these calculations were not performed. The peak stress at breaking is rather well defined since
this depends only on the intensity of the strain signal in the output bar of the Hopkinson
arrangement. For the X and Y orientations, the compressive strength increases by nearly a factor
of two and may be attributed to the strain rate dependence of the polymer matrix. For the Z
orientation, the specimen crumbled into a powder suggesting that dilation of the specimen
occurred during the nonlinear increasing part of the stress strain curve shown in Fig. 13. Proper
interpretation of the data beyond a strain level of about 3 percent is not easily accomplished and
the values of peak stress indicated is likely to be a significant overestimate of the actual peak
stress.

Table III. Hopkinson-Bar Properties

Peak Stress
MPa
X-H-3 -677
X-H-4 -617
Y-H-2 -528
Y-H-3 -528
Z-H-1 -901
Z-H-2 -856

2
 X Specimen
400

350

300

250
Stress-MPa

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09

Strain

Figure 1. Stress-strain curve for G10-Orientation X; compression.

Y Specimen
350

300

250
Stress-MPa

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09

Strain

Figure 2. Stress-Strain curve for G10-Orientation Y; compression.

3
 Z Specimen
500

450

400

350

300
Stress-MPa

250

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12

Strain

Figure 3. Stress-Strain curve for G10-Orientation Z; compression.

Figure 4. Stress-Strain curve for G10-Orientation X; tension.

4
 Y-t Specimen
350

300

250
Stress-MPa

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025

Strain

Figure 5. Stress-Strain curve for G10-Orientation Y; tension.

Figure 6. Photograph showing failure mode; Specimen X-3.

5
 Figure 7. Photograph showing failure mode; Specimen Z-2.
The failure patterns in the tension tests are shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. While many of them
splintered (Figs. 9 and 10), others had a cleaner break. However, all specimens broke on the gage
section between the clip gage extensometer, indicating a valid peak stress measurement.

Figure 8. Photograph showing failure mode; Specimen X-t-1.

Figure 9. Photograph showing failure mode; Specimen X-t-2.

6
 Figure 10. Photograph showing failure mode; Specimen Y-t-2.

X-H Specimen
-800

X-H-3
-600 X-H-4
Stress - MPa

-400

-200

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1
Strain

Figure 11. Stress-strain curve for G10-Orientation X; Hopkinson.

7
 Y-H Specimen
-600

-500 Y-H-2
Y-H-3

-400
Stress - MPa

-300

-200

-100

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1

Strain

Figure 12. Stress-strain curve for G10-Orientation Y; Hopkinson.

Z-H Specimen

-900

-800

-700

-600
Stress - MPa

-500

-400

-300

-200 Z-H-2
Z-H-1
-100

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1
Strain

Figure 13. Stress-strain curve for G10-Orientation Z; Hopkinson.

8
ARL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The research reported in this document was performed in connection with Contract number
DAAD17-01-D-0001 with the US Army Research Laboratory. The views and conclusions
contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as presenting
the official policies or position, either expressed or implied, of the US Army Research
Laboratory or the US Government unless so designated by other authorized documents. Citation
of manufacturers or trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the
use thereof. The US Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for
government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation hereon.

9
 APPENDIX A

Figure A-1.Sample dimensions for tensile tests.

Figure A-2. Sample dimension for Split-Hopkinson bar experiment.

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