Experimental validation of Tsai-Wu failure criteria

Abstract

The paper continues recent research of the authors, consisting in experimental determination of Tsai-Wu failure criteria coefficients as well as criteria validation considering a certain composite. The tested composite, polyester resin reinforced with 1x1 fiber glass fabric was in house manufactured by using VARTM technology. Both elastic and ultimate tests were performed in order to define the constitutive equation of the composite and the ultimate answer under complex loading cases. Special test procedures were considered in order to realize a definite complex plane stress state where the components of stress tensor were clear known until the failure moments. The specimens subjected to the tests were flat and cylindrical ones.

Keywords

• failure criteria
• Tsai-Wu failure criteria
• composite materials