Abstract:

Advanced lightweight materials such as laminated composites with carbon fibres, cylindrical shells and laminated plates are used in modern civil engineering structures, such as wind power stations, as well as in the defence and automotive industries. This encourages the search for new composite structures characterised by adequately high durability and lightness. This paper determined the strains and displacements of composite specimens reinforced with carbon fibre using an innovative strain measurement method based on the fibre Bragg grating. The results of theoretical analyses were also compared using classical laminating theory and the FEM numerical method with the results of practical tests, which were carried out using the 4-point bending test, characterised by a constant bending moment between the supports and the considerable impact of shearing forces. The actual, highest values of normal stresses that the carbon fibre reinforced sample could transfer were determined. The results obtained may be useful in the design of critically stressed engineering elements, for example, civil structures.