scope:

Moisture content is a factor in the mechanical response of many composites. To evaluate this effect, it is necessary to achieve a controlled and uniform moisture distribution within each test specimen. Thin specimens reach moisture equilibrium quicker than thick ones, leading to shorter and more economical test programs. This paper presents the results of an initial attempt to develop a single-ply transverse tension test for unidirectional composites. A number of these tests were performed on unidirectional graphite composites. The transverse strengths were close to the thick specimen values. The stress distributions and the tensile buckling characteristics of the specimens were analyzed using NASTRAN.