Abstract This work presents an experimental method to measure the compressive crack resistance curve of fiber-reinforced polymer composites when subjected to dynamic loading. The data reduction couples the concepts of energy release rate, size effect law and R-curve. Double-edge notched specimens of four different sizes are used. Both split-Hopkinson pressure bar and quasi-static reference tests are performed. The full crack resistance curves at both investigated strain rate regimes are obtained on the basis of quasi-static fracture analysis theory. The results show that the steady state fracture toughness of the fiber compressive failure mode of the unidirectional carbon-epoxy composite material IM7-8552 is 165.6kJ/m2 and 101.6kJ/m2 under dynamic and quasi-static loading, respectively. Therefore the intralaminar fracture toughness in compression is found to increase with increasing strain rate.
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