On the design of end tabs for quasi‐static and fatigue testing of fibre‐reinforced composites

The use of end tabs is often necessary when performing quasi‐static uniaxial tests on fibre‐reinforced composites. However, finding a suitable combination of material and geometry for these end tabs to have acceptable and reproducible results may be a problem. In this article four different geometries and four different materials of the tabs are numerically examined for the tensile testing of a carbon fabric reinforced polyphenylene sulphide. First, it is assessed if a simplified finite element model of a tensile grip is acceptable. Then, this simplified model is used to examine the proposed set‐ups. It may be concluded that, for the given material, short straight end tabs with a [(0°,90°)] 4s layup should be used and the specimen should be mounted in such a way that the end tabs are completely between the grips. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers