Simplified compression bending test method for advanced composites

In the past, one of the authors has proposed a new bending test method, namely a compression bending test. The test was based on buckling and is suitable for advanced composites because the undesirable stress concentration from the loading nose is removed. The original paper dealt with the measurement of the bending strength and successive papers with the methodology used to measure the bending modulus. In the present paper, a new device has been designed by which the total system is drastically simplified. In addition, systematic comparison of all methods has been carried out. During a series of experiments, the superiority of the present compression bending test method was demonstrated. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.