A method for the production of carpet plots for notched compression strength of carbon fibre reinforced plastic multidirectional laminates

This paper outlines a newly developed method for the calculation of the notched compression strength of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates. The BAe-Warton laminate strength prediction method (1) is used to predict the unnotched strength of the laminate and the Soutis et al. model (2) to predict the notch effect. Notched and unnotched strengths are reported for a wide range of T800/924C and T800/5245C carbon fibre-epoxy multidirectional laminates with 0°, ± 45° and/or 90° lay-ups; results are compared with theoretical predictions and in most cases the error is less than 10 per cent. Carpet plots of open hole compression strength for different T800/5245C lay-ups tested at room temperature (RT)/dry and 100 °C/wet are produced. Finally, the open hole strengths generated by the Soutis et al. (2) model are factored by using appropriate experimental data to allow for plain and countersunk filled holes. © IMechE 1997.