• Composites Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of salt water on the mechanical properties of a carbon-epoxy composite material. Specimens were made of a carbon-epoxy composite USN125 and tested under inplane tension and shear after 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months immersion in 3.5% salt water. Waterproof painting and acceleration technique were not applied. The tensile strengths and moduli in fiber and matrix directions did not show any remarkable degradation until 12 months immersion. In contrast to the tensile properties, shear strength and modulus started to degrade from the early stage of the immersion time and gradually decreased to 36% and 46% of dry values, respectively, after 12 months immersion.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.2114-2121
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• 2002

In order to study the effects of oblique tabs on the in-plane shear properties of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced aluminum laminate composites, the 10$^{\circ}$off-axis tensile test, the 45 $^{\circ}$off-axis tensile test and Iosipescu shear test were performed to determine the shear properties. Off-axis tension test was studied by using new oblique-shaped tabs proposed by Sun and $Chung^{(7)}$. Iosipescu shear test was studied by using modified Wyoming test fixture. The oblique tabs reduced remarkably end-constraint effects of off-axis specimens with a aspect ratio of about eight. The experimental results show that there is no significant difference between off-axis test results and those of Iosipescu shear test. The 45$^{\circ}$off-axis tensile tests are recommended for the determination of the shear properties of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced aluminum laminated composites.

• Composites Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of salt water on the mechanical properties of a high modulus carbon-epoxy composite. Specimens were made of a carbon-epoxy composite UPN139B of SK Chemical and tested under inplane tension and shear after 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months immersion in 3.5% salt water. Acceleration technique such as temperature elevation was not used. The tensile strengths and modulli in fiber and matrix direction did not show any remarkable degradation until 12 months immersion. In contrast to the tensile properties, shear strength and modulus started to gradually decrease up to about 10% of values of dry specimens after 12 months immersion. It was confirmed through the test that the material UPN139B can be an effective material for the shell structures in salt water to resist against the external pressure buckling because of the high fiber directional modulus and corrosion resistance.