The Iosipescu Shear Test as Applied
to Composite Materials
by D.E. Walrath and D.F. Adams
ABSTRACT--A history of the Iosipescu shear test as applied
to composite materials is presented along with a description
of the test fixture and specimen design. !osipescu's shear
test is compared to similar test techniques, including the
asymmetrical four-point bending (AFPB) test. Finally, in-plane
and through-the-thickness shear properties measured using
the Iosipescu shear tests are presented for a variety of
materials, including a unidirectional graphite/epoxy, random
and continuous-fiber sheet molding compounds, and two
polymer materials.
Introduction
Due to the orthotropic behavior of most composite
materials, a recognized need exists for a simple, inexpensive
test method to measure the shear properties of these
materials. A variety of test methods exists for introducing
shear stresses in materials. However, all of these test
methods possess some disadvantage, making them less
than ideal.
The most uniform shear-stress state can be achieved in
a material by applying torsional loading to a thin-walled
tube specimen. ~'2 However, tubular specimens of com-
posites are usually expensive to make, requiring special
fabrication procedures. A similar test method is torsion of
solid rods, 3 but composite-rod specimens also require
special fabrication techniques, and the test is limited to
unidirectional materials. Several test methods are
currently used for determining shear properties of flat
test specimens. These include the off-axis tensile test, '-7
picture-frame and rail shear tests, 8-'' cross-sandwich beam
test, '2-~ slotted-tension shear test, ~' plate-twist test, ' ' ' ~
short-beam shear test, 18 and the split-ring shear test, ~9
among others.
Off-axis tensile tests work well for determining the
shear properties of unidirectional, continuous-fiber com-
posites, but this method cannot be applied to composites
with multi-ply oriented plies, nor to randomly oriented
chopped-fiber composite materials. The picture-frame and
rail shear tests induce stress concentrations at the speci-
men edges, producing questionable shear-strength values.
Specimen installation is also somewhat cumbersome. The
slotted-tension shear test requires special biaxial test
equipment often not readily available. Cross-sandwich
D.E. Walrath (SESA Member) and D.F. Adams (SESA Member) are
Staff Engineer and Professor, respectively, Composite Materials Research
Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wyoming,
Laramie, WY82071.
Original manuscript submitted: February 16, 1981. Authors notified o f
acceptance: September 10, 1982. Final version received: June 28, 1982.
beam tests induce stress concentrations within the test
section, at the corners, and the specimens are compli-
cated to fabricate and require large amounts of material.
The plate twist and split-ring shear tests measure only
shear modulus, while the short-beam shear-test method
measures only shear strength.
The ideal test method is one which is relatively simple
to conduct, requires small, easily fabricated specimens,
and is capable of measuring both shear strength and shear
stiffness simultaneously. One very attractive method is
that originally proposed by Nicolae Iosipescu of Bucharest,
Rumania in the early 1960's. This method was discussed
extensively by Iosipescu, as Shown by the list of Rumanian
language papers referenced in his 1967 English language
publication. 2~ As the title of this publication states, he
was primarily interested in testing (isotropic) metals. The
test method as applied to composite materials was brought
to the attention of the present investigators by Thomas
R. Place of the Aeronutronic Division, Ford Aerospace
and Communications Corporation in the early 1970's,
where it was being used to test three-dimensionally re-
inforced ceramic matrix materials? ~ The method was first
used by the Composite Materials Research Group at the
University of Wyoming in 1977 to test three-dimensionally
reinforced carbon-carbon composites, these results being
reported in Ref. 22. Since then, the present authors have
used it to test a wide variety of composite materials,
ranging from unidirectionally reinforced glass/epoxy and
graphite/epoxy to chopped-glass fiber-reinforced poiy-
ester sheet molding components (SMC), and even materials
such as wood and foam. Many of these results are
presented in Refs. 23-28, and' include shear fatigue as
weU as static shear data. In all of these applications, the
method has worked well, resulting in apparent shear
failures and very reproducible results.
Based upon the authors' continuing work with three-
dimensional carbon-carbon composites, and frequent
discussions with early workers in this area, it appears that
the Iosipescu shear test was first used in the United
States to test carbon-carbon composite materials. The
test was probably introduced by means of Iosipescu's
1967 paperJ ~ One of the earliest users was Lockheed Palo
Alto Research Laboratories, as discovered during a recent
visit there by the present authors. 29 Because of the
restrictions on dissemination of information related to
work with carbon-carbon composites, no known open-
literature publications were written. During a general lull
in carbon-carbon composites research activity in the mid-
1970's, the test method seems to have been forgotten.
When activities were resumed in the late 1970's, the many
new investigators becoming involved were not aware of
Experimental Mechanics * 105
 the Iosipescu shear-test method, or at least were not Test.method Description
aware of its potential. In fact, even Lockheed appears to
have lost the technology in large part; however, they do The Iosipescu shear test achieves a state of pure shear
use it to test adhesives and adhesive bonds, yet another loading at specimen midlength by application of two
counteracting moments produced by two force couples, as
potential application.
illustrated in Fig. l(a). For a total force P, as measured
Based upon Iosipescu's original work, 2~ several modified
by the external testing machine, the applied forces are, as
versions of the test method have evolved. Slepetz et aL30
shown, calculated from equilibrium requirements where a
utilized a slightly modified loading scheme, and termed
is the distance between forces of the innermost force
the test the 'asymmetrical four-point bending (AFPB)
test.' While this modification permits easier specimen couple. A state of constant shear loading, as shown in the
shear diagram of Fig. l(b), is induced through the middle
loading, the induced shear stress becomes a function of
section of the test specimen, equal in magnitude to the
the loading-point location dimensions, a distinct dis-
total force P. The moment diagram of Fig. 1(c) shows
advantage in comparison to the Iosipescu configuration,
that induced moments exactly cancel at the midlength of
as discussed in detail in Ref. 25. Slepetz et aL did do a
the specimen, producing a pure-shear loading state.
very thorough study, however, including an investigation
A means by which such loading may be applied is
of stress uniformity using strain gages, moir6-fringe inter-
illustrated in Fig. 2. Basically, each end of the test speci-
ference, and a finite-element analysis. The latter was also
men is restrained from rotating by the loading fixture,
used to study the influence of specimen notch geometry.
while at the same time undergoing shear loading. Iosipescu
Another variation, intended primarily as a method of
tested several different specimen designs and test fixtures
inducing a general biaxial stress state in a composite
plate, but useful also as a shear-test method, is that
utilized by Arcan et al. 31-34 The test specimen is a circular
disk with cutouts, resulting in a small test zone in the
central region. In the practical sense, this test method,
when used with unidirectional composites oriented in the Pb Po
principal directions of the fixture, corresponds to the a-b a-b
Iosipescu shear test.
An excellent finite-element analysis of the test con-
figuration utilized by Arcan et al. 31-34 has been presented
by Marloff25 I
The Iosipescu shear-test method has also been subjected
to finite-element analyses by several investigators. In P__~_b
addition to the work of Slepetz et al.3~ previously referred o-b a-b
to, several investigators at Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University have also performed detailed
studies2 6,37 A two-dimensional, linearly elastic analysis
was used. The specimen was modeled as bonded to stiff
end fixtures, loaded in tension. Thus, one concern, not
present in the Iosipescu test method as used by the present
a. Force Diagram
investigators, was the influence on stress distributions of
the bonded tabs. They also investigated the influence of
rounding the notch tips. Their general conclusions were P
that the Iosipescu specimen produces a region of uniform
shear stress at the center of the specimen for both iso-
tropic (as demonstrated by Iosipescu 2~ originally) and
orthotropic materials. ~6 The uniformity of the shear stress
between the notch tips was found to be highly dependent _ P._~_b _ pb
upon the elastic properties of the orthotropic material, a-b o-b
being most evident for unidirectional composites. The
complex state of stress at the notch tips was considered to
contribute to failure, hence their interest in rounding the b. Shear Diagram
notch tips.
In Ref. 37, the authors concluded that the double V-
notched (i.e., the Iosipescu) shear specimen is worthy of
further investigation, both numerically and experimentally.
No experimental work was performed in Refs. 36 and 37.
Currently the present authors are also performing a
detailed analytical study of the stress state in the Iosipescu Pb
specimen, using their recently developed three-dimensional,
nonlinear, orthotropic finite-element analysis28 The
influences of notch depth and notch-root radius are being
analyzed for various degrees of material orthotropy.
These results will be published in a subsequent paper
:-...j
when the investigation is complete. Preliminary results 2
appear to generally correlate with those of Refs. 20, 30,
c. M o m e n t Diagram
and 35-37. It is expected that the capability of performing
a full three-dimensional analysis, in the inelastic range of Fig. 1--Force, shear and moment diagrams for the
material response, will lead to useful new results also. Iosipescu shear-test method

106 * March 1983

during his research on this subject and found this type of
loading to be the most advantageous. 2~
Iosipescu also found that by cutting 90-deg notches on
each edge of the test specimen, the shear-stress distribution
within the test specimen could be altered from the para-
bolic shear-stress distribution present in constant cross-
section beams, to a constant shear-stress distribution in
the region between the two notches. Contrary to intuitive
expectations, no stress concentrations are caused by these
notches, at least for isotropic materials, as the sides of the
notches are parallel to the normal Stress directions at that
point in the test specimen. 2~ Therefore, the value of shear
stress r for the test shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is simply the
shear force divided by the net cross-sectional area, i.e.,
P determined for Iosipescu's test fixture, they are not
T --
wt
where w is the net width between the two notches and t is
the thickness of the test specimen.
It should be pointed out that this test arrangement as
originally used by Iosipescu is different from that used
by Slepetz et aL 3~ and illustrated in Fig. 3. Slepetz's
method, termed the asymmetrical four-point bending
(AFPB) test, while providing greater latitude in specimen
width, requires use of the fixture dimensions in calculating
the shear stress. The midlength shear loading, V, is now
dependent on the distances between forces, i.e.,
~)~P ,fLooding
u fixture
~ / / / / / ~ TestSpecirnen
Fig. 2--Schematic of the loading fixture for an
Iosipescu shear test
| @
/N
@ @
L
Fig. 3--Schematic of the
asymmetrical four-point bending
(AFPB)shear-loading fixture a~
v =
a+b
instead of Iosipescu's expression
V=P
as shown in Fig. l(b). This may not at first Seem like a
serious disadvantage of the AFPB configuration, as the
loading points of the fixture in Fig. 3 can be accurately
determined. However, the cylindrical loading points cause
local crushing on the edges of composite specimens,
requiring the use of reinforcing tabs as noted by Slepetz. 3~
Although exact force distributions and loading-point
locations [dimensions a and b in Fig. l(a)] cannot be
needed. Furthermore, as the loads are less concentrated
by the flat loading faces, as indicated in Fig. 2, large
local compressive stresses are avoided and tabs are not
required. Thus, for the fixture used in the present research
program, the applied shear force, V, is equal to the total
force, P, applied to the test fixture by the testing machine.
As previously discussed, a constant shear distribution is
assumed to exist in the specimen test section; therefore,
the shear stress, r, is simply equal to the shear force
divided by the net cross-sectional area of the test specimen.
The test fixture used for Iosipescu shear testing at
Wyoming is shown in Fig. 4. An example test specimen
of Plexiglas is in place within the fixture; the piece
extending above the test fixture behind the ball is a
removable alignment tool used for centering specimens by
indexing on the upper notch. Compressive forces are
applied to the steel-ball loading point, resulting in down-
ward motion of the right half of the test fixture. This half
slides up and down on a 1.9-cm (0.75-in.) diameter steel
post. The fixture is an adaptation of a similar fixture in
use at the Aeronutronic Division of Ford Aerospace and
Communications Corporation. ~'
Specimen Design
The test specimens used for the Wyoming version of the
Iosipescu shear test are 51-mm (2-in.) long, 12.7-mm (0.5-
Fig. 4--1osipescu shear-test fixture
Experimental Mechanics 9 107
 in.) wide and 'as-received' thickness. A 90-deg notch is
cut on each edge of the specimen at the midlength to a
depth of 2.5 mm (0.1 in.), as shown in Fig. 5. In general,
the specimen thickness, t, should be on the order of 2.5
mm (0.1 in.) to avoid buckling-induced failures. It is
possible to test very thin materials by bonding multiple
layers to increase thickness, or by using reinforcing tabs
in the loading regions. ~7 The maximum thickness is arbit-
rary, within practical limits. The fixture shown in Fig. 4
will accommodate a specimen up to 12.7-mm (0.5-in.)
thick.
For any given material there are six possible material
orientations within the specimen, corresponding to the six
shear-stress components. For use in this paper and for
future reference, it is useful to define a coordinate system.
The in-plane directions are defined as 1 and 2, with the
1 direction defined as the principal in-plane material
direction. For the case of truly randomly oriented fiber-
reinforced composites, the choice of the primary (1)
coordinate direction is arbitrary. The 3 direction is the
out-of-plane or through-the-thickness direction. Con-
ventional notation for shear stresses is used with shear
loading applied on a plane perpendicular to the first-
given coordinate direction and parallel to the second-given
coordinate direction. Therefore, in-plane shear tests are
12 or 21 tests, while through-the-thickness shear tests
are denoted as 13, 31, 23, or 32.
In-plane shear properties of several materials are pre-
sented in a later section, measured using the specimen
shown in Figs. 5 and 6(a). The through-the-thickness or
interlaminar shear properties can be measured with the
Iosipescu shear test by using laminated specimens as
shown in Fig. 6(b) and 6(c), if the material as-received is
not of sufficient thickness. Such shear tests have been
conducted for sheet molding compounds (SMC). ~4'2'
These materials were nominally 2.5-mm (0.1-in.) thick.
Theoretically, identical results should have been obtained
between the two specimen types due to symmetry of the
stress tensor. In fact, shear strengths for the specimens
described in Fig. 6(b) were much lower than for the
specimens fabricated as in Fig. 6(c). The 31 and 32 speci-
mens, Fig. 6(b), were very fragile due to low through-the
thickness tensile strengths, and easily damaged by even
very slight bending loads. The specimen type shown in
Fig. 6(b) is also much more time consuming to fabricate
and is therefore not recommended for use.
Shear.strain Measurement
The maximum s h e a r strain occurs on a line in the
region between the roots of the notches. Ideally, this
shear strain could be measured by monitoring the relative
displacement of the two fixture halves and calculating the
9 0 ~ Notch
td
D j,
" L
Fig. 5--1osipescu shear-test specimen;
t = 'as received,' w = 7.62 mm (0.3 in.),
d = 2.54 mm (0.1 in.) and L -- 50.8 mm
(2.0 in.)
108 9 March 1983
average shear strain. However, due to compressive
deformations at the four loading points, a fixture dis-
placement measurement is not suitable for calculating
shear strains in the Iosipescu shear-test method.
Strain gages oriented at _+45 deg to the longitudinal
axis of the specimen, and centered between the notches,
can also be used to measure the shear strains. Limited
photoelastic studies have shown that the region of uniform
stress (strain) is of finite width, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in.), at
the center of the test specimen as shown by the isochro-
matic-fringe pattern of Fig. 7 and also as discussed in
Ref. 20. Thus, a potential problem with large strain
gradients within the strain gages themselves is avoided.
Strain-gaged test specimens work well under room-
temperature test conditions.
For elevated-temperature tests, tests of moisture-pre-
conditioned specimens, or for testing very compliant
materials, it may be desirable to use an external strain-
measuring device installed just prior to testing, analogous
to extensometers used in tensile tests.
A modified extensometer is being used at Wyoming to
measure shear strains in Iosipescu test specimens in place
of strain gages. This shear-strain transducer, shown in
Fig. 8, is the result of several design and test iterations.
The device is attached to the test specimen at four points,
two on each side of the test region of the specimen
between the roots of the notches, as shown in Fig. 9. The
transducer is held in place on the test specimen between
/X
O. One Loyer
12 or 21
I' ;123
]h II [ll I
b. Twenty Loyers
31 or 32
A
c. Five Loyers
13 or 23
Fig. 6--1osipescu shear-test-
specimen configuration,
assuming t = 2.5 m m (0.1 in.)
two pairs of pointed screws, spaced at the corners of a Table 1. Complete test results are available in the re-
2.3-mm (0.09-in.) square, a region within the approximately ferenced publications.
uniform shear-strain area shown in Fig. 7. The properties shown in Table 1 do not 'prove' the
The left two attachment points as shown in Fig. 9 mox,e validity of the Iosipescu shear test as a test method. They
the top half of the extensometer, shown in Fig. 8, while do, however, demonstrate the usefulness of the test method
the right two attachment points move the bottom half of for measuring shear properties of a wide variety of
the extensometer. The measurement thus provided is the materials, including the flexibility of testing for properties
shear displacement across the test section of the specimen. on the different shear planes. A great deal of work still
Tests have been performed with both strain gages and the remains to be done in standardizing the test sample and
modified extensometer, with similar results being obtained: test fixture, as well as optimizing the lYLxture design
for ease of use.
Test Data The shear-modulus values shown for the polyethylene,
polyurethane sheet, and polyurethane foams were further
The [osipescu shear test has been used at Wyoming to verified from tension tests also performed on these
characterize a wide variety of materials including several materials. Presuming the four materials are isotropic, the
different glass-reinforced sheet molding compounds, 2~-:~,2a shear modulus is related to the tensile elastic coefficients
unidirectional graphite/epoxy =6 and glass epoxy~ ~' three- by the well known relation
dimensional carbon-carbon, ~2,39 solid ABS, polyurethane
and polyethylene, =7 and even wood and polyurethane- E
G --- - -
foam core materials, z7 Average shear properties obtained 2(1 + ~)
for a small sample of these materials are presented in
In all four cases, the shear moduli measured in the
Iosipescu shear test with a modified extensometer were
found to differ from shear moduli calculated from tensile
TABLE 1--AVERAGE SHEAR PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS elastic properties by less than 10 percent.
MATERIALS AS MEASURED WITH THE IOSIPESCU
SHEAR TEST
Summary
Shear Shear Strength Shear Modulus
Material Orientation (MPa) (ksi) (GPa) (Msi) The Iosipescu shear test is a most versatile and useful
method for measuring shear properties of a wide variety
SMC-R50 12 122.7 17.8 5.10 0.74 of materials. It can be applied to both isotropic and
13 75.2 10.9 2.14 0.31 anisotropic solids, including metals, polymers, uni-
XMC-3 12 131.7 19.1 5.24 0,76 directional and angle-plied laminates, as well as randomly
13 84.1 12.2 3.10 0.45 oriented fiber-reinforced composites. It can be used to
AS/3501-6 graphite/epoxy 12 80.7 11.7 4.90 0.71
measure both the through-the-thickness and in-plane shear
properties of materials. The Iosipescu shear test is relatively
polyethylene sheet * 17.2 2.5 0.24 0.035 easy to use, requiring only small amounts of material.
polyurethane sheet * 0.3 0.5 0.02 0.003 Specimens do not require elaborate fabrication steps and
polyurethane foam: are easy to install in the test fixture. Finally both shear-
specific gravity 0,24 * 2.8 0.4 0.06 0.009 strength and shear-modulus measurements are obtained.
specific gravity 0.56 * 11.0 1.6 0.23 0.033 Analytical studies have been performed to study the
stress state within the test specimen, using linear-analysis
techniques. Further work is currently being performed at
*Assumed isotropic, therefore orientation is arbitrary Wyoming to model the stress states, including the effect

Fig. 7--Photoelastic losipescu shear-test specimen

showing the isochromatic-fringe pattern in the strained Fig. 8--Shear-strain transducer mounted on a test
test region specimen within the Iosipescu test fixture

Experimental Mechanics 9 109

 ~ - 2 . 5 m m ( O . I in.]
I ? . 5 rnrn(0.5 in.)
Fig. 9--Shear-strain-transducer attachment points for the
Iosipescu shear test
of nonlinear material behavior. The test fixture is also
being redesigned in an effort to further improve its
ease of use.
The major purposes of the present paper are to call
attention to the Iosipescu shear test as a viable shear-test
method, and to stimulate discussion within the testing
community. Comments, advice, and questions are all
welcome.
Finally, recognition should be give n to Iosipescu's
original work in developing this technique. This test, or
variations of it, have been in use in the United States for
several years. However, the Iosipescu method has fre-
quently been called by other names, including the Rumanian
shear test, and often variations on Iosipescu's original
work have been renamed, probably due to the difficulty
in pronouncing his name. Hopefully, Iosipescu's con-
tributions in describing this shear-test method will con-
tinue to be recognized by retaining the name the 'Iosi-
pescu shear: test.'
References
1. Pagano, N.J. and Whitney, J.M., "'Geometric Design of Composite
Cylindrical Characterization Specimens," J. Comp. Mat'ls., 4, 538-548
(Oct. 1970).
2. Feldman, A., Tasi, J. and Stany, D.A., "'Experimental Deter-
mination of Stuffness Properties of Thin-shell Composite Cylinders,"
EXPERIMENTALMECHANICS, 8, 385-394 (1966).
3. Adams, D.F. and Thomas, R.L., "'The Solid-Rod Torsion Test for
the Determination of Unidirectional Composite Shear Properties, '" Textile
Res. J., 39 (4), 339-345 (April 1969).
4. Chamis, C.C. and Sinclair, J.H., "'10~ Off-Axis Tensile Test for
lntralaminar Shear Characterization of Fiber Composites, "" NASA Tech.
Note, No. NASA TN D-8215 (April 1976).
5. Rosen, B.W., "'A Simple Procedure for Experimental Determina-
tion of the Longitudinal Shear Modulus of Unidirectional Composites, ""
J. Comp. Mat'ls, 6, 552-554 (Oct. 1972).
6. Sims, D.F., "In-Plane Shear Stress-Strain Response of Unidirec-
tional Composite Materials, ""J. Comp. Mat'is., 7, 124-128 (Jan. 1973).
7. Hahn, 1-1.T,, "'A Note on Determination of the Shear Stress-Strain
Response of Unidirectional Composites," J. Comp. Mat'ls., 7, 383-386
(July 1973).
8. Bryan, E.L., "'Photoelastic Investigation of Stress Distribution in
the Panel Shear Specimen, "" Symp. for Torsion Shear Testing, ASTM
STP 289, 90-94 (1961).
9. Hadcock, R.N. and Whiteside, J.B., "'Characterization of Aniso-
tropic Composite Materials, "" Composite Materials." Testing and Design,
ASTM STP 460, 37-47 (1969).
10. Whitney, J.M., Stansbarger, D.L. and Howell, H.B., "'Analysis of
the Rail Shear Test - Applications and Limitations, "" J. Comp. Mar'Is., 5,
24-34 (Jan. I971).
11. Garcia, R., Weisshaar, T.A. and McWithey, R.R., "'An Experi-
mental and Analytical Investigation of the Rail Shear-test Method as
Applied to Composite Materials, "" EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS, 20 (8),
273-279 (Aug. 1980).
12. Waddoups, M.E., "'Characterization and Design of Composite
Materials, "" Composite Materials Workshop, Technomic Publishing Co.,
Inc., Stamford, CT (1968).
13. Petit, P.H., "'A Simplified Method of Determining In-Plane Shear
110 9 March 1983
Stress-Strain Response of Unidirectional Composites, "' Composite
Materials: Testing and Design, ASTM STP 460, 83-93 (1969).
14. Lenoe, E.M., "'Testing and Design of Advanced Composite
Materials," J. Engrg. Mech. Div. A.S.C.E., 96, 809-823 (Dec. !970).
15. Duggan, M.F., "'An Experimental Evaluation of the Slotted-tension
Shear Test for Composite Materials, "' EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS,
20 (7), 233-239 (July 1980).
16. With R.K., Hoppman 11, W.H. and Buxbaum, R.S., "'Deter-
mination of Elastic Constants of Orthotropic Materials with Special
Reference to Laminates, ""ASTM BuL No. 194, 53-57 (1953).
17. Tsai, S.W., "'Experimental Determination of the Elastic Behavior of
Orthotropic Plates, ""J. Engrg. for Industry, 315-318 (Aug. 1965).
18. "Apparent Horizontal Shear Strength of Reinforced Plastics by
Short Beam Method, ""ASTM D 2344-76, Part 36, 361-364.
19. Greszczuk, L.B., "Shear Modulus Determination of Isotropic and
Composite Materials, "" Composite Materials: Testing and Design, ASTM
STP 460, 140-149 (1969).
20. ,Iosipescu, N., "'New Accurate Procedure for Single Shear Testing
of Metals," J. Mar'is., 2 (3), 537-566 (Sept. 1967).
21. Place, T.R., Private Communication, Aeronutronic Div., Ford
Aerospace and Communications Corp., Newport Beach, CA (1974),
22. Walrath, D.E. and Adams, D.F., "'Damage Mechanisms~Failure
Mechanics of Carbon-Carbon Composite Materials, "Report No. UWME-
DR-904-101-1, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Wyoming,
Laramie, W Y (1979).
23. Adams, D.F. and Walrath, D.E., "`1osipescu Shear Properties of
SMC Composite Materials," Proc. ASTM 6th Conf. on Composite
Materials: Testing and Design, Phoenix, AZ (May 12-13, 1981).
24. Walrath, D.E. and Adams, D.F., "Shear Strength and Modulus of
SMC-R50 and SMC-3 Composite Materials," Report UWJl4E-DR-O04-105-1,
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ.. of Wyoming, Laramie, W Y
(March 1980).
25. Walrath, D.E. and Adams, D.F., "'Static and Dynamic Shear
Testing of SMC Composite Materials," Report UWME-DR-O04-103-1,
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, W Y
(May 1980).
26. Walrath, D.E. and Adams, D.F., "Iosipescu Shear Tests to Study
Effects of Variations in the Fiber~Matrix Interface of Graphite~Epoxy
Composites," Report UWME-DR-O04-108-1, Dept. of Mechanical
Engineering, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, W Y (Nov. 1980).
27. Davis, S.J. and Adams, D.F., "'Thermal Deformation of Various
Composite Material Ski Constructions, "" Report UWME-DR-I01-103-1,
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, W Y
(May 1981).
28. Walrath, D.E. and Adams, D.F., "'Mechanical Properties of ISF-
Toughened Graphite~Epoxy Composites," Report UWME-DR-104-103-1,
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, W Y
(June 1981).
29. Personal Discussion with Frank W. Crossman and colleagues
during visit to Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab., Palo Alto, CA
(Oct. 1980).
30. Slepetz, J.M., Zagaeski, T.F. and Novello, R.F., "In-Plane Shear
Test for Composite Materials, "' Report No. AMMRC TR 78-30, Army
Materials and Mechanics Research Center, Watertown, MA (July 1978).
31. Arcan, M., Hashin, Z. and Votoshin, A., "'A Method to Produce
Uniform Plane-stress States with Applications to Fiber-reinforced
Materials," EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS, 18 (4), 141-146 (1978).
32. Voloshin, A. and Arcan, L., "'Failure of Glass~Epoxy Lamina-
Fractographic Study, '" J. Comp. Mat'is., 13 (3), 240-246 (July 1979).
33. Voloshin, A. and Arcan, M., "'Failure of Unidirectional Fiber-
reinforced Materials- New Methodology and Results, "" EXPERIMENTAL
MECHANICS, 20 (8), 280-284 (Aug. 1980).
34. Voloshin, A. and Arcan, M,, "'Pure Shear Moduli of Unidirectional
Fibre Reinforced Materials (FRM), "" Fibre Sci. and Tech., 13 (2), 125-134
(March-April 1980).
35. Marloff, R.H,, "'Finite Element Analysis of Biaxial Stress Test
Specimen for Graphite/Epoxy and Glass Fabric/Epoxy Composites,'"
Proc. ASTM 6th Conf. on Composite Materials: Testing and Design,
Phoenix, A Z (May 12-13, 1981).
36. Bergner, Jr., H.W., Davis, Jr., J.G. and Herakovich, C.T.,
"'Analysis of Shear Test Method for Composite Laminates,'" Report
VP1-E-77-14, Virginia Polytechnic Instit. & State Univ., Blacksburg, VA
(April 1977).
3Z Herakovich, C.T., Bergner, Jr., H.W. and Bowles, D.E., "'A
Comparative Study of Composite Shear Specimens using the Finite
Element Method, "" Proc. ASTM Syrup. on Test Methods and Design
Allowables for Fibrous Composites, Dearborn, MI (Oct. 2-3, 1979).
38. Monib, M.M. and Adams, D.F., "'Three-Dimensional Etastoplastic
Finite Element Analysis of Laminated Composites, "" Report UWME-DR-
001-102-1, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie,
W Y (Nov. 1980).
39. Walrath, D.E. and Adams, D.F., "'Test Methods Development for
3-D Cylindrical-Weave Carbon-Carbon Composite Materials," Report
UWME-DR-104-104-1, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of
Wyoming, Laramie, W Y (Sept. 1981).