In the composites community, getting accurate strain readings is especially important. To properly assess the strength and material properties of a given carbon fiber laminate, strain measurements must be done properly and accurately.
The importance of accurate strain measurements can be seen in the Formula 1 race car industry. Nowadays, F1 race car chassis are made of composite materials. This advancement began in the 1980s when the processes to manufacture automotive parts became simpler. Composite chassis proved to be stronger and much lighter than the aluminum chassis that were used before this time. To protect the driver, F1 manufacturers need to be sure of the material properties of the composite materials they use when building the car.
As Lorenzo had previously mentioned, testing composite materials can prove to be difficult when measuring strain. Measuring strain on certain specimens various standards calls for strain gauges to be bonded to each specimen. An example of utilizing technologies to measure strain on a composite laminate specimen can be seen here.
With so much info on composites and testing various composite specimens, we have began to develop a section on our site specific to composites testing solutions - feel free to check it out and let us know what else you'd like to hear about.