In-Plane Shear Testing for Reinforced Plastics

In-plane shear testing determines the in-plane shear strength of reinforced thermosetting plastics in flat sheet form. Specimens are typically thermosetting plastics with reinforcements that widely vary in type and thickness ranging from 2.54 mm to 6.60 mm. The test method is similar to that of ASTM D695, Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Plastics, except that in the ASTM D3846 method, failure of the specimen occurs in-shear between two centrally located notches that are machined halfway through the thickness of the specimen and spaced a fixed distance apart on opposing faces. The same compression fixture is used in both methods and placed between two hardened steel compression platens. TestResources provides a variety of test equipment to in-plane shear test reinforced plastics. Call today to speak directly with an experienced applications engineer.