How do I determine mechanical properties?

Composite materials are highly anistropic and this results in more basic mechanical properties being required for a basic characterisation. In addition, their high anisotropy complicates the test methods and gives different properties in tension, compression and shear.

However, much of the DTI metrology programme has focussed on developing these test methods and taking them through to standardisation.

The more important mechanical property test methods include:

	In plane tension
	Out of plane or interlaminar tension
	In plane compression
	In plane and interlaminar shear
	Interlaminar fracture
	Fatigue loading
	Time dependent loading
	Moisture conditioning
	Environmental testing