A Study on Fatigue Crack Propagation Behavior in Random Short-Fiber SMC Composites

비규칙 단섬유강화 SMC 복합재료의 피로균열 전파거동에 관한 연구

The SMC composite, now being considered in certain structural applications, is anticipated to experience repeated loading during service. Thus, understanding of the fatigue behavior is essential in proper use of the composite material. In this paper, using the SMC composite composed of E-glass chopped strand and unsaturated polyester resin three point bending fatigue tests are carried out to investigate the fatigue crack propagating behavior under various cyclic stresses and fatigue damage of various microcrack forms. The following results are obtained from this study; 1) Most of the total fatigue life of the SMC composite is consumed at the initial extension or the growth of the macroscopic crack. 2) A Paris' type power-law relationship between the crack propagation rate and stress intensity factor range is obtained, and the value of material constant m is much higher (m=9~11)than that of other metals. 3) In case of high cyclic stress the fatigue damage show high microcrack density and short crack length, but in case of low cyclic stress does it vice versa. 4) Fatigue damage is characterized by microcrack density, crack length and distribution of crack orientation.