Skip to main content
Log in

An evaluation of the arcan specimen for determining the shear moduli of fiber-reinforced composites

  • Published:
Experimental Mechanics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Moiré interferometry was used to examine the strain distributions in Arcan-type specimens under shear loading. The compact geometry allowed longitudinal and transverse shear behavior to be considered. The best results for longitudinal moduli were obtained with fibers running from notch to notch. As with the losipescu configuration, strain averaging or correction factors were required for modulus determination in all fiber orientations. None of the bending problems that have been encountered in the losipescu specimen were observed. Some twisting was noticed, but its extent (less than 2 percent) was much less than has been noted in shear testing with losipescu specimens.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tsai, C.L. andDaniel, I.M., “Determination of In-plane and Out-of-plane Shear Moduli of Composite Materials,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,30(3),295–299 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Lee, S. andMunro, M., “Evaluation of In-plane Shear Test Methods for Advanced Composite Materials by the Decision Analysis Technique,”Composites,17(1),13–22 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Iosipescu, N., “New Accurate Procedure for Single Shear Testing of Metals,”J. Mat.,2(3),537–566 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Slepetz, J.M., Zagaeski, T.F., andNovello, R.F., “In-plane Shear Test for Composite Materials,”Rep. No. AMMRC TR 78-30, Army Mat. and Mech. Res. Center, Watertown, MA (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Herakovich, C.T. andBergner, H.W. Jr., “Finite Element Stress Analysis of a Notched Coupon Specimen for In-plane Shear Behavior of Composites,”Composites,11(3),149–154 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Herakovich, C.T., Bergner, H.W., and Bowles, D.E., “A Comparative Study of Composite Shear Specimens Using the Finite Element Method,” ASTM STP 734, C.C. Chamis, ed., 129–151 (1981).

  7. Walrath, D.E. andAdams, D.F., “The Iosipescu Shear Test as Applied to Composite Materials,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,23 (1),105–110 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sullivan, J.L., Kao, B.G., andVan Oene, H., “Shear Properties and a Stress Analysis Obtained from Vinyl-ester losipescu Specimens,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,24 (3),222–232 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Swanson, S.R., Messick, M., andToombes, G.R., “Comparison of Torsion Tube and Iosipescu In-plane Shear Test Results for a Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composite,”Composites,16 (3),220–224 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang, S.S. and Dasgupta, A., “Development of Iosipescu-type Test for Determining Shear Properties of Fiber Composite Materials: Critical Anisotropic Elasticity Analysis and Experiment,” Mechanical Eng. Dept., Univ. of Houston (1986).

  11. Barnes, J.A., Kumosa, M., andHull, D., “Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of the Iosipescu Shear Test,”Comp. Sci. Tech.,48,251–268 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pindera, M.-J., Choksi, G., Hidde, J.S., andHerakovich, C.T., “A Methodology for Accurate Shear Characterization of Unidirectional Composites,”J. Comp. Mat.,21(12),1164–1184 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Adams, D.F. andWalrath, D.E., “Current Status of the Iosipescu Shear Test Method,”J. Comp. Mat.,21(6),494–507 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Adams, D.F. andWalrath, D.E., “Further Development of the Iosipescu Shear Test Method,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,27(2),113–119 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kumosa, M. andHull, D., “Mixed-mode Fracture of Composites Using Iosipescu Shear Test,”Int. J. Fracture,35 (2)83–102 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sullivan, J.L., “The Use of Iosipescu Specimens,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,28(3),326–328 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Abdallah, M.G. and Gascoigne, H.E., “The Influence of Test Fixture Design on the Iosipescu Shear Test for Fiber Composite Materials,” ASTM STP 1003, C.C. Chamis, ed., 231–260 (1989).

  18. Lee, S. andMunro, M., “Evaluation of Testing Techniques for the Iosipescu Shear Test for Advanced Composite Materials,”J. Comp. Mat.,24(4),419–440 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pindera, M.-J., Ifju, P., andPost, D., “Iosipescu Shear Characterization of Polymeric and Metal Matrix Composites,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,30(1),101–108 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ho, H., Tsai, M.Y., Morton, J., andFarley GL, “An Experimental Investigation of Iosipescu Specimen for Composite Materials,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,31(4),328–336 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Morton, J., Ho, H., andTsai, M.Y., “An Evaluation of the Iosipescu Specimens for Composite Materials Shear Property Measurement,”J. Comp. Mat.,26(5),708–750 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ho, H., Tsai, M.Y., Morton, J., andFarley, G.L., “Numerical Analysis of the Iosipescu Specimen for Composite Materials,”Comp. Sci. Tech.,46,115–128 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Odom, E.M., Blackketter, D.M., andSuratno, B.R., “Experimental and Analytical Investigation of the Modified Wyoming Shear-test Fixture,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,34(1),10–15 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ifju, P., “The Shear Gage: For Reliable Shear Modulus Measurements of Composite Materials,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,34(4),369–378 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Adams, D.F. andLewis, E.Q., “Experimental Strain Analysis of the Iosipescu Shear Test Specimen,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,35(4),352–360 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Goldenberg, N., Arcan, M., andNicolau, E., “On the Most Suitable Specimen Shape for Testing Shear Strength of Plastics,”ASTM STP 247, 115–121 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Arcan, M., Hashin, Z., andVoloshin, A., “A Method to Produce Uniform Plane-stress States with Applications to Fiber-reinforced Materials,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,18(2),141–146 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Voloshin, A. andArcan, M., “Failure of Unidirectional Fiber-reinforced Materials—New Methodology and Results,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,20(3),280–284 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Arcan, M., “Discussion of the Iosipescu Shear Test as Applied to Composite Materials,” EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,24(1),66–67 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Marloff, R.H., “Finite Element Analysis of Biaxial Stress Test Specimen for Graphite/Epoxy and Glass Fabric/Epoxy Composites,” ASTM STP 787, I.M. Daniel, ed., 34–49 (1982).

  31. Weissbeg, V. and Arcan, M., “A Uniform Pure Shear Testing Specimen for Adhesive Characterization,” ASTM STP 981, W.S. Johnson, ed., 28–38 (1988).

  32. Liechti, K.M. andHayashi, T., “On the Uniformity of Stresses in Some Adhesive Deformation Specimens,”J. Adhesion,29,167–191 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Liang, Y.-M., andLiechti, K.M., “On the Large Deformation and Localization Behavior of an Epoxy Resin Under Multiaxial Stress States,”Int. J. Solids Structures,33 (10),1479–1500 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Ifju, P. and Post, D., “A Compact Double-notched Specimen for In-plane Shear Testing,” Proc. 1989 Spring Conf. on Exp. Mech. Boston (May 1989).

  35. Czarnek, R., “High Sensitivity Moiré Interferometry with a Compact, Achromatic Interferometer,”Opt. Lasers Eng. 13,99–116 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hung, S.-C. and Liechti, L.M., “A Reevaluation of the Arcan Specimen for Determining the Shear Moduli of Fiber Reinforced Composites.” EMRL Report No. 96/7, Dept. of Aerospace Eng. and Eng. Mech., Univ. of Texas at Austin (1996).

  37. Chamis, C.C., “Simplified Composite Micromechanics Equatons for Mechanical, Thermal and Moisture-related Properties,”in Engineers' Guide to Composite Materials, J.W. Weeton, D.M. Peters andK.L. Thomas, eds., ASM International, Materials Park, OH (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Kyriakides, S., Arseculeratne, R., Perry, E.J., andLiechti, K.M., “On the Compressive Failure of Fiber Reinforced Composites,”Int. J. Solids Structures,32(6–7),689–738 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Hashin, Z., “Analysis of Composite Materials—A Survey,”J. Appl. Mech.,50 481–505 (1983).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  40. Kyriakides, S. and Ruff, A.E., “Aspects of the Failure and Postfailure of Fiber Composites in Compression,” EMRL Report No. 96/2, Dept. of Aerospace Eng. and Eng. Mech, Univ. of Texas at Austin (1996).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hung, S.C., Liechti, K.M. An evaluation of the arcan specimen for determining the shear moduli of fiber-reinforced composites. Experimental Mechanics 37, 460–468 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02317314

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02317314

Key Words

Navigation