Notched GFRP: anisotropy, residual strength, and fracture characteristics

This research aims to analyze a study of the mechanical response, in the presence of geometric discontinuity, of glass fiber-reinforced plastics to the uniaxial tensile test. Geometric discontinuity is characterized by a circular hole in the longitudinal section (with reduction of the cross-section) of the composite. In this study, different configuration types are tested, with and without hole, to provide a better understanding of the mechanical properties, with respect to residual strength, anisotropy, and fracture characteristics. The residual strength determined using the precepts given by the ASTM D 5766-07 standard is used in the point-stress criterion and average-stress criterion failure theories for the semi-empirical calculation of the distances (d0 and a0) in the vicinity of the hole, the region where stress failure occurs. Semi-empirical distances are determined for the composite laminate whose configuration is considered isotropic. The results show the direct influence of the presence of geometric discontinuity and residual strength in all the parameters studied, in addition to fracture characteristics.