Video camera, data acquisition, and motion analysis combine to test fracture toughness of composite materials.
Testing fracture toughness in material structures-specifically composite laminates-has historically been the realm of microscopes and x-y chart recorders that monitor the crack growth and acquire force and deflection data for fracture-toughness testing. An operator views the delamination (crack growth) through a microscope as it progresses, then marks on the chart recorder when milestone increments in growth have been achieved. When the test is complete, force, deflection, and crack-growth data are reduced to provide fracture-toughness properties for the material under test.
