FURI | Fall 2022

Assessment of Mode I/II Fracture Technique (NASA) and Novel Fracture Technique at ASU

Polymer matrix composite performance weaknesses are largely caused by delamination, which is a mode failure originating from a combination of normal and shear stresses, or Mode I and Mode II, respectively. In the past, researchers introduced a mixed-mode bending (MMB) fixture to identify combined Mode I and Mode II fractures. Recently, Arizona State University researchers attempted to improve the MMB fixture design to characterize combined fracture more precisely. This improved mixed-mode bending (IMMB) apparatus enhances the MMB apparatus’ stiffness by 87%.

In this study, the efficiency of the MMB and IMMB fixtures will be determined via finite element analysis. Over the course of the term, the researcher has developed both fixture designs using SolidWorks, led analysis via ANSYS, and has performed a literature review for the future project development of characterizing combined Modes I, II, and III fracture.