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Reversible Rail Shear Apparatus Applied to the Study of Woven Laminate Shear Behavior

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Abstract

The multitude of in-plane shear tests existing in the literature seems to demonstrate the complexity of developing a test adapted to all experimental works. In a general framework of investigation of translaminar cracks in thin laminates, a test able to reproduce a pure in-plane shear loading was required. The laminate studied is notably employed as helicopter blade skin, and cyclic torsion induced by aerodynamic load involves cyclic in-plane shear. This particular application established some specifications for the test needed to carry out this study. To comply with them, an original technological solution has been developed from a three-rail shear test apparatus. This paper describes the resulting “reversible rail shear test” solution and its application to the study of in-plane shear behavior of a thin glass-epoxy laminate. The results concern plain and notched coupons under quasi-static loading, and crack growth tests under cyclic loading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Toulouse; ISAE, INSA, UPS, EMAC; ICA (Institut Clément Ader); ISAE, 10 av. E. Belin, 31055, Toulouse, France

    T. Rouault & C. Bouvet

  2. Eurocopter, 13725, Marignane, France

    T. Rouault, V. Nègre & P. Rauch

Authors
  1. T. Rouault
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  2. C. Bouvet
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  3. V. Nègre
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  4. P. Rauch
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Correspondence to C. Bouvet.

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Rouault, T., Bouvet, C., Nègre, V. et al. Reversible Rail Shear Apparatus Applied to the Study of Woven Laminate Shear Behavior. Exp Mech 53, 1437–1448 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-013-9731-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-013-9731-8

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