Effect of strain rate and specimen geometry on the compressive strength of woven glass-reinforced epoxy laminates

Abstract Two woven glass-reinforced epoxy laminates have been tested in compression at a quasi-static rate, using a specially constructed compression testing rig, and an impact rate of strain, using the split Hopkinson-bar technique. Two different designs of specimen were tested at each rate, a solid cylinder as commonly used with the compression version of the Hopkinson-bar and a thin strip, waisted in the thickness direction, as recommended for the compression testing of laminated composites. The effect of the specimen design on the observed mechanical response is discussed.