Repair of damaged composite laminates

The aim of this study was to examine the mechanical performance of the repaired glass-epoxy composite laminates experimentally and numerically and comparing the results with eachother. The specimens used in experiments were manufactured by vacuum assisted resin infusion molding method in Composite Research Laboratory at Dokuz Eylul University. Woven glass fabrics were used in fabrication of the specimens. Shimadzu AUTOGRAPH AG-IS Series universal tensile test machine was used in the experiments. In the numerical analysis, LUSAS 14.1 software was utilized.Three different types of tensile specimens, i.e. unpatched, two stepped patched and three stepped patched specimens, were examined experimentally and numerically. Besides this, different types of tensile specimens, according to the tensile test standards, are modelled and analyzed with LUSAS. Interface elements were used to simulate uncontinuous regions in the patched specimens. Analysis results are evaluated and discussed. Eventually, different types of bending specimens, according to the three point bending test standards, are also analyzed with LUSAS followed by the discussions.The conclusions drawn from the study are summarized in conclusions section.