Width effects on the tensile strength and fatigue behavior of angle-ply laminates

The effects of the specimen width on the tensile strength and fatigue behavior of fiberglass/epoxy coupons was investigated experimentally. Monotonic and fatigue tensile tests of [+/- Theta(2)](s) laminates with six fiber angle orientations (ranging from +/- 25 degrees to +/- 75 degrees) and five different widths were conducted. The ultimate tensile strength and fatigue behavior depend on both the fiber angle orientation and specimen width. The effects of specimen width are more apparent at smaller angles, Theta less than or equal to 45 degrees. In general, the tensile strength and fatigue life increases and approaches a steady value as the specimen width increases. For larger fiber angles. Theta > 45 degrees, the width effects are less pronounced for both monotonic and fatigue loading. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.