ABSTRACT
Testing is an inseparable part in any composite product development program. The simple and obvious objective of carrying out a test is to generate some useful data in respect of various mechanical and nonmechanical characteristics of the material or structure. The overall process of development and production that includes design and analysis, testing, initial development, and final series production of a composite product can be viewed from a building block approach involving a number of levels in the form of a pyramid. Tests in the next level are on the mechanical and nonmechanical properties of the lamina. Data from these tests are commonly used as inputs to the analytical and numerical tools in design calculations for configuring sizes, shapes, and ply sequence of various design elements and their performance prediction. Standard test methods are available for most of the mechanical and nonmechanical parameters of fibers, resin, prepregs, laminae, and laminates.
