Composite Structures 67 (2005) 485–489

www.elsevier.com/locate/compstruct

Bearing strength of carbon epoxy laminates under static

and dynamic loading
Alaattin Aktasß *

Department of Mechanical Engineering of Usßak, Afyon Kocatepe University, 64300 Usßak, Turkey
Available online 10 April 2004

Abstract
An experimental study has been carried out to investigate both the static and dynamic bearing strengths of a pinned-joint carbon
epoxy composite plate with [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S and [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S stacking configurations. The static and dynamic experiments
have been carried out according to the ASTM D953 standards and ASTM STP 749, respectively [ASTM D 953-D, Standard Test
method for Bearing Strength of Plastics, ASTM Designation. 342; Joining of Composite Materials, ASTM STP 749, American
Society for Testing and Materials (1981) 131]. The ratio of the edge distance to the pin diameter (E=D), and that of the width to the
pin diameter (W =D) of the specimens were varied to obtain the static bearing strength and the S–N fatigue curve. The experiments
show that the static bearing strengths reach their upper limit when E=D and W =D ratios are equal to or greater than 4 for both [0°/
45°/)45°/90°]S and [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S stacking sequences. The fatigue strength, on the other hand, reduces by up to 65% as E=D and
W =D ratios increase for both stacking configurations.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords: Carbon fibre; Fatigue; S–N fatigue curve; Laminate mechanics; Joints

1. Introduction 3900-2 carbon-epoxy composite laminate, and deter-

Proper design of composite materials for structural
applications requires the knowledge of material behav-
ior under static and dynamic loading. Special emphasis
should be placed on the static and fatigue behavior of
pinned-joints since the required holes create stress con-
centrations and potential locations for damage initiation
and delimitations. This aspect of pinned-joints has at-
tracted attention from many composite researchers.
Among them, Chang et al. [3] have numerically analyzed
the bearing strength and the failure mode of a pinned
graphite epoxy composite plate with [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S ,
[0°/45°/)45°]S , and [0°/90°]2S configurations by the
finite element method (FEM). They found the speci-
men with [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S configuration with W =D ¼ 4
and E=D ¼ 4 dimensions to give the highest bearing
strength. Wang et al. [4] have experimentally studied the
pinned-joint for various stacking sequences of a T80011/
*
Tel.: +90-276-263-4195; fax: +90-276-263-4196.
E-mail address: aaktas@aku.edu.tr (A. Aktasß).
0263-8223/$ - see front matter Published by Elsevier Ltd.
doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2004.02.007
mined the maximum bearing strength and the failure
mode. Okutan et al. [5] have studied the bearing strength
of pin loaded Kevlar epoxy laminates experimentally.
Collings [6] has found the bearing strength for carbon
epoxy composites to be directly proportional to the
laminate thickness. Herrington and Sabbaghian [7]
have studied on fatigue failure of graphite-epoxy com-
posite bolted joints experimentally. They have used
the W =D ¼ 4 and E=D ¼ 4 geometric configuration.
They found the endurance limit of the plate about
67% of bearing strength. Herris et al. [8] have investi-
gated the fatigue behavior plates made out of various
carbon fibre reinforced plastics experimentally. Xioxou
et al. [9] have investigated the experimental fatigue
life of cross-ply graphite/epoxy composite laminates
having [0/902 ]S , and [02 /902 ]S and [02 /904 ]S stacking
sequences.
These researchers have investigated the fatigue
behavior of composite plates without a hole or pinned-
joint plates having special geometric configurations. In
this study, the bearing strength and fatigue behavior of a
pinned-joint carbon epoxy composite plates having
486 A. Aktasß / Composite Structures 67 (2005) 485–489

varying E=D and W =D ratios and different stacking se-

quences will be studied.

2. Materials and specimens

The carbon epoxy composite panels having 62% fibre

volume fraction have been produced in the materials
laboratory at Kirikkale University in Turkey. 0° 16 ply,
and 8 ply with [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S as well as with [90°/45°/
)45°/0°]S configuration laminated plates were manufac-
tured to found mechanical properties, bearing strength,
and fatigue strength. The engineering constants of
Fig. 2. The geometry of the pinned-joint problem.
material are determined according to ASTM standards
by means of strain gages and are given in Table 1.
Two specimen groups corresponding to the [0°/45°/
)45°/90°]S and [90°/45° /)45°/0°]S stacking configura-
tions were formed. Specimens for each group were
produced in the following manner: while keeping the
E=D ratio as 4, the W =D ratio is varied as 2, 3, 4, and 6;
and maintaining W =D as 4, E=D is changed as 2, 3, 4,
and 6. These 2.64 mm thick specimens were cut with a
water-cooled diamond-tipped rotary wheel into rectan-
gular blanks and drilled by a modified high-speed steel
drilling tool with three sharp contact points to prevent
fuzzy edges (Fig. 1) [10]. In this way, a 6.35 mm diameter
hole from a fixed distance of L ¼ 80 mm along the
symmetry axis (see Fig. 2) is obtained on the specimens.
A hardened (by heating at 720 °C for 0.5 h and at 950 °C
for 1 h and then quenching in oil at room temperature)

Table 1
The properties of the material Fig. 3. Custom fixture used in testing loaded holes.
Properties Symbol (unit) Value
Fiber volume fraction Vf (%) 62
and polished pin was later inserted in the hole without
Longitudinal Young’s modulus E1 (GPa) 88
Transverse Young’s modulus E2 (GPa) 8.8 clearance. Then, experiments were performed by means
Shear modulus G12 (GPa) 2.8 of the fixture on the 100 kN loading capacity Instron
Poisson’s ratio m12 0.28 8516+ universal testing machine for static and fatigue
Longitudinal tensile strength Xt (MPa) 811 loading (Fig. 3).
Longitudinal compressive strength Xc (MPa) 457.7

3. Static pin bearing strength

The tests are conducted with reference to ASTM

D953 at room temperature of
20 °C [1]. Bearing
strength is defined as the bearing stress at which the
bearing hole is deformed by 4% of the hole diameter, D
(i.e., 0.04D). Once the bearing load–displacement curve
is determined, a tangent OB as shown in Fig. 4 is drawn
such that the distance OG on the zero load axis be equal
to 0.04D. The load corresponding to the tangent point B
is taken as the bearing load (Pb ). Then, the bearing
strength is calculated from the following relation [1,12].
Pb
rb ¼ ð1Þ
Fig. 1. Drill bits (a) standard, (b) modified. Dt
 A. Aktasß / Composite Structures 67 (2005) 485–489 487

where rb , Pb , D, and t are bearing strength, bearing load, 220

diameter of hole, and thickness of the specimen, 205
respectively.

Bearing Strength [MPa]

190
After the specimens were manufactured, the pin was
175
inserted in the hole. Then, the static tests were per-
160
formed by means of the fixture on the Instron universal
testing machine with a speed of 1.3 mm/min. For each 145

configuration three specimens were tested. Hole dis- 130 [0º/45º/-45º/90º]s

placement was measured using an extensometer. A 115 [90º/45º/-45º/0º]s
typical load–displacement curve is shown in Fig. 5. The 100
bearing strengths found for different W =D and E=D 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
E/D

Fig. 7. Comparison of bearing strengths for [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S and

[90°/45°/)45°/0°]S configurations (W =D ¼ 4 constant).
%4.D P Bearing
Load C
ratios and [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S and [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S
D B stacking sequences are given in Figs. 6 and 7.

A 4. Dynamic pin bearing strength

O G The fatigue tests were conducted with reference to

ASTM STP 749 at room temperature of
20 °C under
Fig. 4. Defining of the bearing strength.
the load control function of an INSTRON 8500+ servo-
hydraulic testing machine [2]. The load control function
assures that a constant maximum and minimum alter-
nating load will be applied to the specimen throughout
its life. The loading waveform was sinusoidal at a fre-
quency of 10 Hz. The applied varying stress is defined by
the paired component rmax and R, where R is the ratio
rmin =rmax . In this investigation, the stress ratio used for
all fatigue tests was R ¼ 0:1 [7].
Once a fatigue test had begun, the test was continued
until failure or a terminating value of the number of
cycles was reached. Since bearing failure is the expected
failure mode, the definition used for fatigue failure in this
study is a pin hole deformation equal to 4% of the ori-
ginal hole diameter. This definition of failure is consis-
tent with ASTM D953 and ASTM STP 749 [1,2] that
Fig. 5. Typical load–displacement curve with associated photograph. defines that causes at 4% elongation in the hole diameter.
If a test piece did not fail (hole elongation < 0,04D)
220
after undergoing 106 stress cycles, then the test was
suspended and that specimen was considered a run-out.
205
The S–N curve found for different W =D and E=D ratios
Bearing Strength [MPa]

190 for [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S and [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S stacking

175 sequences are given in Figs. 8–11.
160

145

130 [0º/45º/-45º/90º]s 5. Results and discussion

[90º/45º/-45º/0º]s
115

100
A typical load–displacement curve from the experi-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ments is shown in Fig. 5. The curve is seen to be linear
W/D
up to a maximum value, and then due to local delam-
Fig. 6. Comparison of bearing strengths for [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S and inations and cracks within the plate, it follows a zigzag
[90°/45°/)45°/0°]S configurations (E=D ¼ 4 constant). pattern about a load slightly lower than the maximum.
488 A. Aktasß / Composite Structures 67 (2005) 485–489

1.1

0.9 W/D=2
W/D=3
0.8
σa
σ b 0.7

W/D=6
0.6
W/D=4
0.5

0.4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Log(N)

Fig. 8. S–N curves for [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S configuration (E=D ¼ 4 constant).

1.1 1.1

1 1

0.9 E/D=2 0.9 E/D=2

E/D=3 E/D=3
0.8 σ a 0.8
σa σb
σ b 0.7 0.7

E/D=6 0.6 E/D=6

0.6 E/D=4
E/D=4
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.4 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Log(N)
Log(N)
Fig. 11. S–N curves for [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S configuration (W =D ¼ 4
Fig. 9. S–N curves for [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S configuration (W =D ¼ 4 constant).
constant).

Figs. 6 and 7 present the experimental pinned-joint

strength results for a carbon epoxy composite plate
1.1 (62% fibre) with [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S and [0°/45°/)45°/
1
90°]S stacking configurations. In order to obtain the
optimum geometry for these configurations, the ratio of
0.9 the edge distance to the pin diameter (E=D), and the
W/D=2
0.8 W/D=3 ratio of the specimen width to the pin diameter (W =D)
σa
σ b 0.7 have systematically been varied during experiments. A
custom made fixture on an Instron testing machine has
0.6 W/D=6 been used for pinned-joint experiments.
W/D=4 Comparison of both stacking sequences showed [90°/
0.5
45°/)45°/0°]S to be stronger in regards to the bearing
0.4 strength than [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S as shown in Figs. 6 and
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Log(N) 7. The difference in strengths varies by up to 12% and
10% for E=D ¼ 4 and W =D ¼ 4 specimen groups,
Fig. 10. S–N curves for [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S configuration (E=D ¼ 4
constant).
respectively.
The fatigue data is represented by a paired value of
fluctuating stress amplitude and the corresponding
The failure in the pin region for the [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S number of cycles to failure (S, N), denoted a single point
configuration is along the loading direction. However, on the graph as shown in Figs. 8–11. The value N,
the [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S configuration shows a failure number of cycles to failure, is defined as the number of
pattern along and perpendicular to the applied load. All load cycles attained when the bolt hole elongation
the specimens tested showed bearing mode as the cause reaches a valve of 0.04D. The semi-log S–N curves are
of failure [11]. plotted on a logarithmic scale. These S–N curves yield
 A. Aktasß / Composite Structures 67 (2005) 485–489
an estimate of the mean number of cycles to failure as a
function of the maximum applied alternating stress. For
ease of comparisons of results with other fatigue data,
the use of relative valves of maximum applied stress to
bearing strength is used throughout Figs. 8–11. Ordinate
axis of these figures is the term ra =rb . The numerator of
this term represents the maximum applied stress, and the
denominator is the bearing strength. Some of the curves
include only a few data points. However, it is clear that a
fatigue endurance limit (to enable a fatigue life N P 106
cycles) may only be achieved at stress levels as low as
about 65% of the static failure stress (bearing strength).
For the [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S and [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S stack-
ing sequences, the fatigue endurance limit decreases
while E=D and W =D increase.
6. Conclusions
In this study, pinned-joint experiments have been
performed to examine the static and dynamic strength
behaviors on a carbon epoxy laminate with [0°/45°/)45°/
90°]S and [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S stacking sequences. In order
to obtain the optimum geometry, the ratio of the edge
distance to the pin diameter (E=D), and the ratio of the
specimen width to the pin diameter (W =D) have sys-
tematically been varied during the tests.
[90°/45°/)45°/0°]S sequence is found to be stronger
when compared to the [0°/45°/)45°/90°]S sequence by up
to 12% in terms of bearing strengths. Additionally, the
optimum geometry is attained when E=D P 4 and
W =D P 4, and both configurations reach their upper
limit bearing strengths at those ratios [12].
The fatigue strength reduces up to 63% of the static
strength while E=D and W =D ratios increase for all
E=D, W =D, and stacking configurations. The fatigue
endurance limit decreases for the [90°/45°/)45°/0°]S and
489
[0°/45°/)45°/90°]S stacking sequences while E=D and
W =D increase. However, the both stacking sequences
approximately give the same endurance limit.
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