Study of low-cycle fatigue of glass-hybrid laminates

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the results of reinforcing fibre metal laminates with glass fibres under low-cycle fatigue conditions in a limited number of cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

The tests were carried out on open-hole rectangular specimens loaded in tension-tension at high load ranges of 80 and 85 per cent of maximum force determined in static test, correspondingly. The number of cycles for destruction has been determined experimentally.

Findings

By means of microscopic observations, it was possible to determine the moment of crack initiation and their growth rate. Furthermore, it was possible to identify the impact of reinforcing fibre orientation in composite layers, material creating the metal layers, on fatigue life and on nature of crack propagation.

Practical implications

This work validates the possibility of increasing the resistance of fibre metal laminates to low-cycle fatigue by modifying the structure of the laminate.

Originality/value

The resistance of fibre metal laminates on low-cycle fatigue is not widely described and the phenomena occurring during degradation are poorly understood.

Citation

Majerski, K., Surowska, B., Bienias, J. and Szusta, J. (2018), "Study of low-cycle fatigue of glass-hybrid laminates", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 90 No. 3, pp. 489-495. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-09-2015-0210