147 Effect of loading pattern on fatigue behavior of laminated composites

The effect of load interruptions on the fatigue behavior of (±45)_2S angle-ply glass/epoxy composite laminates was investigated in this work. Constant amplitude fatigue experiments were performed at different stress levels to derive base line fatigue data. In addition, interrupted-fatigue experiments were performed by removing the cyclic loading for two hours repetitively, after cycling for 20% of the fatigue life achieved under continuous loading at the same maximum cyclic stress level. The specimens loaded under interrupted fatigue exhibited longer fatigue live than those continuously loaded until failure.