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Short Beam Shear Testing ASTM D2344 of polymer composites

Short Beam Shear Testing ASTM D2344 of polymer composites

ASTM D2344

Short Beam Shear Testing ASTM D2344 of polymer composites used to determine the short-beam strength of high-modulus fiber-reinforced composite materials.


ASTM D2344 is a standard test method used to evaluate the short-beam strength of fiber-reinforced composite materials, particularly laminates. It measures the material’s resistance to interlaminar shear failure using a short-beam three-point bending test. 

ASTM D2344/D2344M-22: Standard Test Method for Short-Beam Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials and Their Laminates

General introduction

Short Beam Shear Testing ASTM D2344 of polymer composites used to determine the short-beam strength of high-modulus fiber-reinforced composite materials.


ASTM D2344 is a standard test method used to evaluate the short-beam strength of fiber-reinforced composite materials, particularly laminates. It measures the material’s resistance to interlaminar shear failure using a short-beam three-point bending test. 

ASTM D2344/D2344M-22: Standard Test Method for Short-Beam Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials and Their Laminates

This test method determines the short-beam strength of high-modulus fiber-reinforced composite materials. The specimen is a short beam machined from a curved or a flat laminate up to 6.00 mm [0.25 in.] thick. The beam is loaded in three-point bending.


Application of this test method is limited to continuous- or discontinuous-fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites, for which the elastic properties are balanced and symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

Short Beam Shear Testing ASTM D2344 of polymer composites


Test procedure: The thickness and width of the test specimen are measured before conditioning. The specimen is placed on a horizontal shear test fixture so that the fibers are parallel to the loading nose. The loading nose is then used to flex the specimen at a speed of .05 inches per minute until breakage. The force is then recorded. Calculations are performed to determine shear strength.
Specimen size: The test specimens are machined from flat, finished composites.

ASTM D2344 Shear Test Loading conditions: 
Loading speed: a constant speed of 1-2 mm/min for continuous loading of 56.
Stop conditions: load drops by 30%, specimen breaks, or displacement exceeds nominal thickness by 10.
Strength calculation: According to the maximum load at break P_max, specimen width b, and thickness h, the shear strength of the short beam is calculated using the formula:

Short Beam Shear Testing ASTM D2344 of polymer composites

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