An automated methodology for mode II delamination tests under fatigue loading based on the real time monitoring of the specimen’s compliance

This work introduces a procedure based on the real time monitoring of the specimen’s compliance for the experimental characterization of the fatigue behaviour of interlaminar cracks in composites. The methodology was applied to a mode II loading in a three-point end notch flexure test. The onset point for fatigue damage was determined with a precision of one cycle by establishing a threshold on the compliance variation from its initial value. On...