• Composites Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

The effects of aging on fatigue of PSF/AS4 laminates tvas 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 ${\Delta}Gmc$(microcracking toughness) about the variation of the aging period during fatigue loading. The master plot by modified Pans-law gives a characterization of a material system's resistance to microcrack formation. PSF/AS4 $[0/902]_s$ laminates were aged at four different temperatures based on the glass transition temperature for 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 were aged for 60 days at $170^{\circ}C$ near $180^{\circ}C\;T_g$. The slope of dD/dN versus A 6u, 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 ${\Delta}G_m$.