The mechanical testing of composite materials involves a range of test types, a plethora of standards, and the need to condition and test in a variety of different environments.
Composite materials are being used in an ever-increasing variety of products and applications, as more and more industries realize the benefits that these materials offer. As the demands for light-weight composite structures for aerospace, ground transportation, and environmentally sustainable energy systems develop, so do the mechanical testing requirements for composite materials, components and structures.
Full characterization of the properties of anisotropic and inhomogeneous composite materials, for use in demanding structural applications, requires a wide range of mechanical tests. Determination of bulk properties requires tension, compression and shear tests. In qualification and materials development, other test types are used to explore more complex properties, such as open hole tension/compression (OHT/OFC), inter-laminar fracture toughness, compression after impact (CAI), and fatigue. Tests need to be conducted over a range of temperatures on materials that may have been conditioned in a variety of environmental conditions such as high humidity and immersion in fluids.