On the design of end tabs for quasi-static and fatigue testing of fibre-reinforced composites

The use of end tabs is often necessary when performing quasi‐static uniaxial tests on fibre‐reinforced composites. However, finding a suitable combination of material and geometry for these end tabs to have acceptable and reproducible results may be a problem. In this article four different geometries and four different materials of the tabs are numerically examined for the tensile testing of a carbon fabric reinforced polyphenylene sulphide. First, it is assessed if a simplified finite element model of a tensile grip is acceptable. Then, this simplified model is used to examine the proposed set‐ups. It may be concluded that, for the given material, short straight end tabs with a [(0°,90°)]4s layup should be used and the specimen should be mounted in such a way that the end tabs are completely between the grips. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers