The influence of the edge effect under plane specimens tension on polymer composite strength characteristics

The influence of the width of the edge effect zone in a plane sample of a polymer composite on the results of determining the tensile strength of the material is analyzed. A method for engineering assessment and determining the size of this zone by a non-contact optical-digital method, based on digital image correlation, is proposed. Experimental studies of the ELUR–008P/BN layered composite, symmetrically reinforced with high-modulus carbon fibers with a reinforcement arrangement scheme [(±45°)12], were conducted. The experimental results obtained using modified correlation algorithms for processing digital images were compared with the data determined by the standard experimental and computational method.