EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION AND STOCHASTIC MODELING OF INTERLAMINAR SHEAR STRENGTHS OF GRAPHITE/EPOXY LAMINATED COMPOSITES

The experimental and analytical investigations are conducted concerning the effects of fiber orientations on the interlaminar shear (ILS) strengths in laminated composites. The modified double notch shear test is employed in the experiment, and a stochastic modeling technique is developed in the analysis. It is found that both the mean values and probability distribution forms of the interlaminar shear strengths vary with the fiber orientation difference between the two surrounding plies of the interfaces.