ASTM C1869-18

5.1 Open-hole tests of composites are used for material and design development for the engineering application of composite materials 5.2 The test method defines two baseline test specimen geometries and a test procedure for producing comparable, reproducible OHT test data. The test method is designed to produce OHT strength data for structural design allowables, material specifications, material development and comparison, material characterization, and quality assurance. The mechanical properties that may be calculated from this test method include:

5.3 Open-hole tensile tests provide information on the strength and deformation of materials with defined through-holes under uniaxial tensile stresses. Material factors that influence the OHT composite strength include the following: material composition, methods of composite fabrication, reinforcement architecture (including reinforcement volume, tow filament count and end-count, architecture structure, and laminate stacking sequence), and porosity content. Test specimen factors of influence are: specimen geometry (including hole diameter, width-to-diameter ratio, and diameter-to-thickness ratio), specimen preparation (especially of the hole), and specimen conditioning. Test factors of influence are: specimen alignment and gripping, speed of testing, and test temperature/environment. Controlled stress states are required to effectively evaluate any nonlinear stress-strain behavior which may develop as the result of cumulative damage processes (for example, matrix cracking, matrix/fiber debonding, delamination, fiber pull-out and fracture, etc.) which may be influenced by testing mode, testing rate, processing effects, or environmental influences. Some of these effects may be consequences of stress corrosion or slow (subcritical) crack growth. Stress corrosion and slow crack growth factors can be minimized by testing at sufficiently rapid rates as described in 12.1.7.

1.1 This test method determines the open-hole (notched) tensile strength of continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) test specimens with a single through-hole of defined diameter (either 6 mm or 3 mm). The open-hole tensile (OHT) test method determines the effect of the single through-hole on the tensile strength and stress response of continuous fiber-reinforced CMCs at ambient temperature. The OHT strength can be compared to the tensile strength of an unnotched test specimen to determine the effect of the defined open hole on the tensile strength and the notch sensitivity of the CMC material. If a material is notch sensitive, then the OHT strength of a material varies with the size of the through-hole. Commonly, larger holes introduce larger stress concentrations and reduce the OHT strength.

1.2 This test method defines two baseline OHT test specimen geometries and a test procedure, based on Test Methods C1275 and D5766/D5766M. A flat, straight-sided ceramic composite test specimen with a defined laminate fiber architecture contains a single through-hole (either 6 mm or 3 mm in diameter), centered by length and width in the defined gage section (Fig. 1). A uniaxial, monotonic tensile test is performed along the defined test reinforcement axis at ambient temperature, measuring the applied force versus time/displacement in accordance with Test Method C1275. Measurement of the gage length extension/strain is optional, using extensometer/displacement transducers. Bonded strain gages are optional for measuring localized strains and assessing bending strains in the gage section.

1.3 The open-hole tensile strength (1.4 This test method applies primarily to ceramic matrix composites with continuous fiber reinforcement in multiple directions. The CMC material is typically a fiber-reinforced, 2D, laminated composite in which the laminate is balanced and symmetric with respect to the test direction. Composites with other types of reinforcement (1D, 3D, braided, unbalanced) may be tested with this method, with consideration of how the different architectures may affect the notch effect of the hole on the OHT strength and the tensile stress-strain response. This test method does not directly address discontinuous fiber-reinforced, whisker-reinforced, or particulate-reinforced ceramics, although the test methods detailed here may be equally applicable to these composites.

1.5 This test method may be used for a wide range of CMC materials with different reinforcement fibers and ceramic matrices (oxide-oxide composites, silicon carbide (SiC) fibers in SiC matrices, carbon fibers in SiC matrices, and carbon-carbon composites) and CMCs with different reinforcement architectures. It is also applicable to CMCs with a wide range of porosities and densities.

1.6 Annex A1 and Appendix X1 address how test specimens with different geometries and hole diameters may be prepared and tested to determine how those changes will modify the OHT strength properties, determine the notch sensitivity, and affect the stress-strain response.

1.7 The test method may be adapted for elevated temperature OHT testing by modifying the test equipment, specimens, and procedures per Test Method C1359 and as described in Appendix X2. The test method may also be adapted for environmental testing (controlled atmosphere/humidity at moderate (<300 °C) temperatures) of the OHT properties by the use of an environmental test chamber, per 7.6.

1.8 Values expressed in this test method are in accordance with the International System of Units (SI) and IEEE/ASTM SI 10.

1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.10 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.