Statistical Considerations in the Analysis of Data From Fatigue Tests on Delaminated Cross-Ply Graphite/Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze the results of compressive fatigue experiments performed on a set of delaminated Graphite/Epoxy cross-ply composites. Crack branching, the failure mode we are interested in, occurred during the tests. Due to scatter, it is somewhat difficult to draw conclusions on the values of the branching angles, the key parameter of the problem, unless the tools of statistical and exploratory data analysis (EDA) are used. Here, a brief discussion on some of these techniques is presented, and their application to the set of obtained test data is carried out. The results seem to indicate that the crack grows faster when it is not self-similar, with a higher rate of growth for cracks that branch with a greater angle out of the interface. [S0094-4289(00)03204-7]