Fibre-reinforced plastic composites — Determination of compressive properties in the in-plane direction

This document specifies methods for determining the compressive properties, in directions parallel to the plane of lamination, of fibre-reinforced plastic composites, based on thermosetting or thermoplastic matrices. The compressive properties are of interest for specifications and quality-control purposes. The test specimens are machined from a flat test plate, or from suitable finished or semi-finished products.

Two loading methods and two types of specimen are described.

The loading methods are:

— Method 1: provides shear loading of the specimen (gauge length unsupported)

— Method 2: provides combined loading of the specimen (gauge length unsupported)

NOTE For tabbed specimens loaded using method 2, load is transferred through a combination of end-loading and shear-loading through the tabs.

The specimen designs are:

— Type A specimen: rectangular cross-section, fixed thickness, end-tabbed (mainly for aerospace style preimpregnates (~ 0,125 mm ply thickness)

— Type B specimen: rectangular cross-section, range of thicknesses, untabbed or end-tabbed, two specimen sizes are available (B1 and B2).

The Type A specimen is used for unidirectionally or biaxially reinforced mater