Damage Development Near the Edges of a Composite Specimen During Quasi-static and Fatigue Loading

The replication technique is a method of following the damage development at the edge of a specimen during a load history. The observation of the edge replica in the scanning electron microscope makes it possible to observe micro-details during the damage development. Fracture of 0° fibers could be observed at the edge surface of [0, ± 45, 0]2s and [0, 90, 0, 90]2s laminates after monotonic and cyclic loading. A documentation and explanation of the formation and development of the 0° fiber fracture is given.