The Effects of Physical Aging of PSF/AS4 Laminate on Fatigue

PSE/AS4 복합재료의 가속노화가 피로강도에 미치는 영향

The effects of aging of PSF/AS4 laminates on fatigue was studied using the new energy release rate analysis. The analysis by the variational mechanics has been useful in providing fracture mechanics interpretation of matrix microcracking in cross-ply laminates. This paper describes the changes of the critical energy release rate (microcracking toughness) according to the aging period under fatigue loading. The master plot by modified Paris-law gives a characterization of a material system's resistance to microcrack formation. PSF $[0/90_{s}]_{s}$ laminates were aged at four different temperature based on the glass transition temperature for 0 to 60 days. At all temperatures, the toughness decreased with aging time. The decrease of the toughness at higher temperature was faster than at lower temperature. To assess the effects of aging on fatigue, the unaged laminates were compared with the laminates which had been aged for 60 days at 170$^{\circ}C$ near 180 $^{\circ}C$ t$_g$. The slope of dD/dN versus ${\Delta}G_m$. of the aged laminates was lower than that of the unaged laminates. There was a significant shift of the aged data to formation of microcracks at the lower values of ${\Delta}G_m$.