Moulding influence on the mechanical properties of sheet moulding compounds: Part II—fracture properties

The mechanical fracture properties of sheet moulding compounds are studied in the case of a simple moulding geometry, for which deformation flow occurs in only one direction. The properties studied are: elastic limits, ultimate stress, and work of fracture. The experimental results show that mechanical properties depend essentially on the mould covering rate and not on the stretch length. Fibres, which are initially orientated randomly in-plane, are oriented during the moulding process.