This master thesis main goal has been
to develop a test tool, to test for fracture
mechanics parameters under mode
I, mode II and mode mixity loading using
pure moments. The tests specimens
are double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens,
made from fiber reinforced composites.
The test tool, that has been developed
and manufactured at Aalborg
University. For the verification, that
the test tool produces the correct moments
and no spurious shear forces are
introduced during a test, a test device
with strain gauges bonded, has been
used together with Digital image correlation
(DIC). The test tool has been
used to test specimens fabricated from
fiberglass and epoxy. Here a 20 μm slip
film has been inserted between the middle
layers to act as a crack starter. Successful
mode I tests were conducted and
the fracture parameters were used in a
programmed finite element script capable
of simulating the fracture process of
a specimen with the same properties as
the one tested.