Comparative study of strain rate effects on mechanical properties of glass fibre-reinforced thermoset matrix composite

The tensile dynamic behaviour of glass fibre-reinforced phenolic and polyester resins has been determined in order to find the influence of strain rate on the mechanical properties of composite materials produced by the resin transfer moulding (RTM) and pultrusion processes. Data and experimental test systems from the literature are analysed. A new specimen design is created and validated using drop-weight dynamic tests. The dynamic elastic modulus and strength tend to increase in an important ratio for the majority of the materials studied. The shear modulus measured with off-axis and ±45° coupons produces different effects as a function of strain rate. The influence of the reinforcement structure is emphasized and shown to be effective.