The Arcan test fixture is a testing device used to determine the mechanical properties of materials, such as metals, plastics, composites, and fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). The test method involves applying a shear force through a section between two edge notches to produce a nearly uniform shear stress along the section. The Arcan test fixture consists of a specimen holder that mounts the test coupon and a testing machine that applies the load.[1] The fixture can be used for uniaxial and biaxial testing of laminates in pure shear and combined normal/shear stress states.[1]
The Arcan testing configuration has been successful in testing a wide range of materials.[2] There are typically two classes of methods used to attach the Arcan fixture to the load frame actuators: a connection allowing rotation in the plane of the specimen and a "fixed" connection inhibiting in-plane rotation at the fixture ends.[3] Modified versions of the Arcan test fixture have been developed to produce different biaxial states of stress by varying the angle α between the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the specimen.[4][5]
Examples of research papers and video[6]
The Arcan test fixture is a testing device used to determine the mechanical properties of materials, such as metals, plastics, composites, and fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs). The Arcan test fixture was originally designed by Arcan et al. in 1978 to evaluate the inter-laminar fracture parameters under complete in-plane loading conditions, ranging from pure mode I to pure mode II, with a single specimen configuration. The test method involves applying a shear force through a section between two edge notches to produce a nearly uniform shear stress along the section. The Arcan test fixture consists of a specimen holder that mounts the test coupon and a testing machine that applies the load.[10] The fixture can be used for uniaxial and biaxial testing of laminates in pure shear and combined normal/shear stress states.[10] The Arcan testing configuration has been successful in testing a wide range of materials.
There are typically two classes of methods used to attach the Arcan fixture to the load frame actuators: a connection allowing rotation in the plane of the specimen and a "fixed" connection inhibiting in-plane rotation at the fixture ends.[11]
Modified versions of the Arcan test fixture have been developed to produce different biaxial states of stress by varying the angle α between the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the specimen.[12]
Further modifications, of the Arcan fixture, proposed by Yen et al. included bolting a butterfly-shaped specimen between two symmetrical semi-circular steel discs. The specimen had trapezoidal cut-outs into which it was fitted before bolting it down. Yen showed that a homogenous stress and strain fields can be obtained through a central butterfly-shaped specimen. This was also the origin of the test specimen known today as the “butterfly specimen”. This was certified with a photo-elastic analysis.
A problem that exists with the current optimized butterfly specimen is that the stress concentrations on the inner circular edges are responsible for early fractures due to the uniaxial stresses acting in the notches/defects present after manufacturing of such a specimen.[13]
In 1995 the Arcan fixture was modified by Amstutz et al. for more stable crack opening. Instead of using trapezoidal cut-outs Hajjar and Ali[14] increased the number of bolts used, six bolts for each side of the specimen, to fasten the specimen to the Arcan. These alterations allowed for biaxial stresses to be obtained with relative ease by adjusting the (α) angle at which the loads are applied.
It is normally assumed that for unidirectional materials that the in-plane and through-thickness mechanical properties are the same for both the transverse and shear directions if a homogenous stress field exists within the test specimen.
References
edit- ^ a b Ud Din, I.; Hao, P.; Panier, S.; Khan, K.A.; Aamir, M.; Franz, G.; Akhtar, K. (2020-04-01). "Design of a New Arcan Fixture for In-plane Pure Shear and Combined Normal/Shear Stress Characterization of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites". Experimental Techniques. 44 (2): 231–240. doi:10.1007/s40799-019-00353-9. ISSN 1747-1567.
- ^ Ni, Fujian; Yang, Shu; Zhu, Yu; Braham, Andrew (2013-04-29). "Capturing mixed-mode cracking of asphalt concrete using the Arcan test". International Journal of Pavement Engineering. 15 (1): 43–50. doi:10.1080/10298436.2013.790969. ISSN 1029-8436.
- ^ Greer, J. M.; Galyon Dorman, S. E.; Hammond, M. J. (2011-06-01). "Some comments on the Arcan mixed-mode (I/II) test specimen". Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 78 (9): 2088–2094. doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2011.03.017. ISSN 0013-7944.
- ^ Nikbakht, Masood; Choupani, Naghdali (2009-07-01). "Experimental investigation of mixed-mode fracture behaviour of woven laminated composite". Journal of Materials Science. 44 (13): 3428–3437. doi:10.1007/s10853-009-3456-1. ISSN 1573-4803.
- ^ Weissberg, V; Arcan, M, "A Uniform Pure Shear Testing Specimen for Adhesive Characterization", Adhesively Bonded Joints: Testing, Analysis, and Design, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959: ASTM International, pp. 28–28-11, retrieved 2023-04-06
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Arcan Test, retrieved 2023-04-06
- ^ Cognard, J. Y.; Sohier, L.; Davies, P. (2011-01-01). "A modified Arcan test to analyze the behavior of composites and their assemblies under out-of-plane loadings". Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 42 (1): 111–121. doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2010.10.012. ISSN 1359-835X.
- ^ Xavier, José; Oliveira, Marcelo; Morais, José; Pinto, Tiago (2009-03-01). "Measurement of the shear properties of clear wood by the Arcan test:". 63 (2): 217–225. doi:10.1515/HF.2009.034. ISSN 1437-434X.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Mahgoub, Elmoiz; Deng, Xiaomin; Sutton, Michael A (2003-12-01). "Three-dimensional stress and deformation fields around flat and slant cracks under remote Mode I loading conditions". Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 70 (18): 2527–2542. doi:10.1016/S0013-7944(03)00082-1. ISSN 0013-7944.
- ^ a b Ud Din, I.; Hao, P.; Panier, S.; Khan, K.A.; Aamir, M.; Franz, G.; Akhtar, K. (2019-10-25). "Design of a New Arcan Fixture for In-plane Pure Shear and Combined Normal/Shear Stress Characterization of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites". Experimental Techniques. 44 (2): 231–240. doi:10.1007/s40799-019-00353-9. ISSN 0732-8818.
- ^ Greer, J.M.; Galyon Dorman, S.E.; Hammond, M.J. (2011-06). "Some comments on the Arcan mixed-mode (I/II) test specimen". Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 78 (9): 2088–2094. doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2011.03.017. ISSN 0013-7944.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Nikbakht, Masood; Choupani, Naghdali (2009-07). "Experimental investigation of mixed-mode fracture behaviour of woven laminated composite". Journal of Materials Science. 44 (13): 3428–3437. doi:10.1007/s10853-009-3456-1. ISSN 0022-2461.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Yen, S.-C.; Craddock, J.N.; Teh, K.T. (2008-01-28). "EVALUATION OF A MODIFIED ARCAN FIXTURE FOR THE IN-PLANE SHEAR TEST OF MATERIALS". Experimental Techniques. 12 (12): 22–25. doi:10.1111/j.1747-1567.1988.tb02169.x. ISSN 0732-8818.
- ^ El-Hajjar, Rani; Haj-Ali, Rami (2004-07). "In-plane shear testing of thick-section pultruded FRP composites using a modified Arcan fixture". Composites Part B: Engineering. 35 (5): 421–428. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2003.12.004. ISSN 1359-8368.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)