Issue 9

Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 9 (2009) Notiziario IGF 161 ESIS - TC24 activity Meeting of ESIS TC4 on Polymers, Adhesives and Composites 11 th -12 th September 2008 at the Eurotel, Les Diablerets, Switzerland. Minutes Present Bamber Blackman, Imperial College (UK) Roy Moore (UK) Antonio Martinez, U. Catalunya, (Es) Lluisa Maspoch, U. Catalunya, (Es) Andrea Pavan, Politecnico di Milano (I) Alicia Salazar, U. Rey Juan Carlos, (Es) Orlando Santana, U. Polit. Cat (Es) Andreas Brunner, Empa (CH) Jesus Rodriguez, U. Rey Juan Carlos, (Es) Silvia Agnelli, U. Brescia, (I) Stefano Pandini, U. Brescia, (I) Laurent Warnet. U. Twente, (NL) Alessandro Pegoretti, U. Trento, (I) Luigo Franchino, Polimeri Europa (I) Leonardo Castellani, Polimeri Europa (I) Francesco Caimmi, Politecnico di Milano (I) Andrea Calzolari, CEAST (I) Hugh MacGillivray, Imperial College (UK) Luca Andena, Politecnico di Milano (I) Manuela Boggio, Politecnico di Milano (I) Claudia Marano, Politecnico di Milano (I) Paul Lambert, Intertek MSG, (UK) Denis Cartié, Cranfield (UK) Theonis Ricco, U. Brescia (I) Francesco Baldi, U Brescia (I) Helge Steininger, BASF, (D) Gilles Orange, Rhodia R & D (F) Gordon Williams, Imperial College (UK) Takashi Kuriyama, U. Yamagata, (J) Marta Rink, Politecnico di Milano (I) Neal Murphy, U. College Dublin (IRE) Tony Kinloch, Imperial College (UK) Welcome Gordon Williams welcomed attendees to the committee meeting and the agenda was confirmed. 1. Essential work of fracture: Marta Rink A review of the results from the previous round-robin were presented. It was apparent that the test results are very sensitive to the sharpness of the initial notch and there was much discussion of this issue. There was a presentation of results from one lab where razor notching had been compared with laser ablation notching. A drawback was that laser ablation costs €60 per specimen. Actions: Future work will focus on notching and the statistical analysis of the test result (Marta). 2. J c Testing: Helge Steininger Helge reviewed the results of some tests performed at BASF and the issues of crack front shape and the accuracy of the various compliance measurements were discussed. Actions: A final version of the protocol to be written with comments on suitability (Helge). Application of the load-separation criteria to be evaluated (Helge). Cutting and scratch testing: Gordon Williams Gordon summarised the development of the new analysis schemes, which had been presented in the conference paper two days earlier. Two additional analyses were now available and had been trialled at Imperial College. There was a presentation of data from Intertek, where a new cutting rig had been developed. The cutting method appears to offer a route for G c determination in polymers for which it would be impossible to obtain values from conventional G or J tests. Actions: New analysis methods to be added to protocol. Dave Wyeth (U. Reading) to send details of his experimental method to Gordon. Labs to try new analysis methods. Laminates testing (and Structural Adhesives): - Fatigue (Andy Brunner for Gerald Pinter): Andy presented the essential features of the TC4 delamination fatigue protocol which has been developed. A new round- robin was proposed, with carbon-fibre laminate being provided by U. Leoben. The status of the ASTM round-robin was discussed. Actions: Labs agreeing to take part in new round-robin: Empa, Dublin, Leoben, Oviedo, Brecia, Imperial College (Bamber to confirm). Round-robin to be initiated (Gerald). - High Rate: Denis Cartié Denis reviewed the results from the current high speed delamination round-robin. The crack length correction factor appeared to introduce scatter in the results obtained using the load-independent method. This required some further refinement. Denis reported that he was leaving Cranfield in December and would be unlikely to continue with his TC4 involvement. Actions: A new leader was required for this activity (Bamber to advise).