Measurement of Epoxy Resin Tension, Compression, and Shear Stress–Strain Curves over a Wide Range of Strain Rates Using Small Test Specimens

Abstract

The next generation aircraft engines are designed to be lighter and stronger than engines currently in use by using carbon fiber composites. In order to certify these engines, ballistic impact tests and computational analyses must be completed, which will simulate a “blade out” event in a catastrophic engine failure In order to computationally simulate the engine failure, properties of the carbon fiber and resin matrix must be known. When conducting computer simulations using a micromechanics approach, experimental tensile, compressive, and shear data are needed for constitutive modeling of the resin matrix material. The material properties of an Epon E862 epoxy resin will be investigated because it is a commercial