Notch effect in 20% short carbon fibre-PA reinforced composites under quasi-static tensile loads

In this work the static behaviour of notched specimens made of a polyamide-6 thermoplastic material reinforced with 20% of short carbon fibres was investigated. In more details, U and V-shaped notched specimens were manufactured by a wire cutting process from injected plates and tested under tensile quasi static loadings. All in all, 42 new experimental data have been provided, related to different notch root radii and notch opening angles, investigating the effect of the local geometry on the notch strength. Taking advantage of the scanning electron microscopy, a detailed damage analysis was also carried out on the fractured specimens, identifying the main damaging mechanisms occurring in the highly stressed regions close to the notch tip. Eventually, all the experimental data from the notched specimens have been reconverted in terms Generalised Notch Stress Intensity Factors, GSIFs, and summarised in a single scatter band.