Measurement of the mode II intralaminar fracture toughness and R-curve of polymer composites using a modified Iosipescu specimen and the size effect law

A modified Iosipescu specimen is proposed to measure the mode II intralaminar fracture toughness and the corresponding crack resistance curve of fibre reinforced composites. Due to the impossibility of scaling the specimen, a modification of the classical size effect method is proposed. The calculation of the crack driving force curves is performed using the Finite Element Method. The classical Iosipescu shear feature was used and tests were...