A Study on the Static Tensile Strength of Notched CFRP Specimens

In this study, the static tensile tests of Polyethernitrile (ID 300) and CFRP in which the carbon fiber was combined in an ID 300 resin matrix with a fiber content of 30 %, by weight, were done by using smooth and notched specimens at room temperature. The results were discussed based on linear notch mechanics. The relation σ_∞-1/ρ is to be classified into two parts, namely, a part where σ_∞ decreases with decreasing ρ and a part where σ_∞ is nearly constant regardless of ρ (σ_∞: nominal stress at infinity, ρ: notch tip radius). The similar phenomenon can be seen in the fatigue tests of notched specimens under rotating bending or push-pull. The fracture of ID 300 and CFRP specimens is controlled by the elastic maximum stress, σ_maxc and the notch tip radius, p, alone, independently of the other geometrical conditions. Linear notch mechanics is very useful for analyzing the static tensile fracture behavior of the notched ID 300 and CFRP specimens.