ASTM D4255/D4255M-20
Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method

Standard No.

ASTM D4255/D4255M-20

Release Date

2020

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D4255/D4255M-20e1

Latest

ASTM D4255/D4255M-20e1

Scope

1.1 This test method determines the in-plane shear properties of high-modulus fiber-reinforced composite materials by either of two procedures. In Procedure A, laminates clamped between two pairs of loading rails are tested. When loaded in tension, the rails introduce shear forces in the specimen. In Procedure B, laminates clamped on opposite edges with a tensile or compressive force applied to a third pair of rails in the center are tested. 1.2 Application of this test method is limited to continuousfiber or discontinuous-fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites in the following material forms: 1.2.1 Laminates composed only of unidirectional fibrous laminae, with the fiber direction oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the fixture rails. 1.2.2 Laminates composed only of woven fabric filamentary laminae with the warp direction oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the fixture rails. 1.2.3 Laminates of balanced and symmetric construction, with the 0° direction oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the fixture rails. 1.2.4 Short-fiber-reinforced composites with a majority of the fibers being randomly distributed. NOTE 1—Additional test methods for determining in-plane shear properties of polymer matrix composites may be found in Test Methods D3518/D3518M, D5379/D5379M, D5448/D5448M, and D7078/ D7078M. 1.3 The reproducibility of this test method can be affected by the presence of shear stress gradients in the gage section and stress concentrations at the gripping areas. Test Methods D5379/D5379M and D7078/D7078M provide superior shear response in comparison to this test method, as their specimen configurations produce a relatively pure and uniform shear stress state in the gage section. 1.4 The technical content of this standard has been stable since 2001 without significant objection from its stakeholders. As there is limited technical support for the maintenance of this standard, changes since that date have been limited to items required to retain consistency with other ASTM D30 Committee standards, including editorial changes and incorporation of updated guidance on micrometers and calipers, strain gage requirements, speed of testing, specimen preconditioning and environmental testing. Future maintenance of the standard will only be in response to specific requests and performed only as technical support allows. 1.5 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inchpound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined. 1.5.1 Within the text the inch-pounds units are shown in brackets. 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

ASTM D4255/D4255M-20 Referenced Document

• ASTM D2584 Standard Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins
• ASTM D2734 Standard Test Methods for Void Content of Reinforced Plastics
• ASTM D3171 Standard Test Methods for Constituent Content of Composite Materials
• ASTM D3518/D3518M Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Response of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by Tensile Test of a ± 45^o Laminate
• ASTM D3878 Standard Terminology Composite Materials
• ASTM D5229/D5229M Standard Test Method for Moisture Absorption Properties and Equilibrium Conditioning of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials
• ASTM D5379/D5379M Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Composite Materials by the V-Notched Beam Method
• ASTM D5448/D5448M Standard Test Method for Inplane Shear Properties of Hoop Wound Polymer Matrix Composite Cylinders
• ASTM D7078/D7078M Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Composite Materials by V-Notched Rail Shear Method
• ASTM D792 Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement
• ASTM D883 Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics*， 2024-02-01 Update
• ASTM E111 Standard Test Method for Young''s Modulus, Tangent Modulus, and Chord Modulus
• ASTM E122 Standard Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With a Specified Tolerable Error, the Average for Characteristic of a Lot or Process
• ASTM E1237 Standard Guide for Installing Bonded Resistance Strain Gages
• ASTM E177 Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• ASTM E251 Standard Test Methods for Performance Characteristics of Metallic Bonded Resistance Strain Gages
• ASTM E4 Standard Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
• ASTM E456 Standard Terminology for Relating to Quality and Statistics
• ASTM E6 Standard Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Testing

ASTM D4255/D4255M-20 history

• 2020 ASTM D4255/D4255M-20e1 Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method
• 2020 ASTM D4255/D4255M-20 Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method
• 2015 ASTM D4255/D4255M-15a Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method
• 2015 ASTM D4255/D4255M-15 Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method
• 2001 ASTM D4255/D4255M-01(2007) Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method
• 2001 ASTM D4255/D4255M-01 Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method
• 1983 ASTM D4255/D4255M-83(1994)e1 Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method