Determination of longitudinal compressive strength of long fiber composites by three-point bending of [0m/90n/0p] cross-ply laminated strips

A new test method is proposed for measuring longitudinal compressive strength of composite laminates by three-point bending of cross-ply laminates. Optimal cross-ply configuration has been designed in order to get compressive stresses higher than tensile stresses. Thermal and mechanical stresses have been calculated based on the hypothesis of Classical Beam Theory. Cross-ply carbon/epoxy strips with different thicknesses and spans have been tested by three-point bending. Failures on the compressive side have been observed in all cases and no evidence of transverse cracking has been found. Experimental results agree well with compressive strength reference values. The possibility of determination of compressive and tensile strengths by three-point bending from a unique cross-ply lay-up has been also analyzed.