FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF A PHENOLIC MATRIX COMPOSITE

This paper presents results of a fatigue life investigation carried out in plate specimens of a fibre-glass-reinforced phenolic matrix composite. Tensile and Young's modulus data were obtained at four different testing temperatures (room temperature, 100, 150 and 200-degrees-C). The fatigue S-N data were obtained at room temperature only and for two stress ratio values (R = 0 and 0.4). Fatigue and tensile behaviour was assesesed in the composite with the fibres aligned in the longitudinal loading direction. The results were obtained for two values of volume fraction (0.28 and 0.42) and three different glass surface treatments. A detailed comparison of fatigue results is given taking into account several fatigue parameters and also the testing variables. Results of observations of SEM fracture surfaces are also presented.