Damage indicators evolution during cyclic loading of composite plate with hole

Novel experimental method, which provides quantitative description of damage indicators evolution caused by fatigue loading of composite specimens with stress concentrators, was developed. Damage parameters are derived as deformation response to artificial notch inserting. This notch is extended from the edge of central through hole in plane rectangular specimen under constant external load. Current values of damage indicators are obtained at different stages of fatigue loading. These data reveal dependencies of required parameters on loading cycle number. The damage accumulation function for involved cycle range is quantitatively constructed on this base. It is found that this function is related to the first stage of the process investigated. The results obtained represent the essential link in the design of further experiments.