A failure criterion for fiber reinforced polymer composites under combined compression-torsion loading

A fracture mechanics based failure criterion for unidirectional composites under combined loading has been developed. The predictions from this criterion have been compared with experimental data obtained from combined compression-torsion loading of glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites of 50% fiber volume fraction. The specimens were loaded under rotation control and displacement control in a proportional manner. Comparison of the Budiansky-Fleck kinking model, specialized to a solid circular cylinder, and the new failure model against experimental data suggests that the Budiansky-Fleck model predictions do not capture the variation of compressive strength as a function of shear stress for glass fiber composites. This is because these composites fail predominantly by compressive splitting. The Budiansky-Fleck model predictions are appropriate for composites that fail by compressive kinking. The new model predictions capture the experimental results for glass composites where the compression strength is initially unaffected by shear stress but undergoes a drastic reduction when a critical value of shear stress is reached. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.