A New Compression Test Fixture for Unnotched or Notched Thin Composite Laminates

A new compression fixture suitable for testing relatively thin composite laminates with or without holes or notches is described and evaluated. This UCSB fixture comprises several features of detail that are different from those of the existing fixtures, such as the large, well-established Supplies of Advanced Composite Materials Association (SACMA) fixture. Both a description and a rationale for such features are included together with compressive strength data for notched and unnotched carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite (PMC) laminates obtained using the UCSB fixture. Comparisons drawn between open hole compression (OHC) strengths for quasi-isotropic specimens tested with the UCSB fixture and with the SACMA fixture are shown to produce equivalent values. The series of experiments on OHC strength discussed herein indicated that the maximum strength values were grouped within 6% of the highest value for each test group.