A Microscopic Experimental Method Transversely Loading on Single High-Performance Fibers

• Published in: Experimental mechanics Vol. 59; no. 5; pp. 669 - 679
• Main Authors: Gao, J., Nie, Y., Lim, B.H., Kedir, N., Chen, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 15-06-2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Coating effects; Control; Crack initiation; Crack propagation; Deformation; Dynamical Systems; Engineering; Experimental methods; Failure; Fibers; Lasers; Low vacuum; Mechanical properties; Optical Devices; Optics; Photomicrographs; Photonics; Research methodology; Scanning electron microscopy; Solid Mechanics; Vibration; Transverse loading; Uncoated fiber; SEM; Failure process; Single fiber
• ISSN: 0014-4851; 1741-2765
• DOI: 10.1007/s11340-019-00518-y

We developed a microscopic experimental method that transversely loads and images single high-performance fibers. The experimental set-up was inside the chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Force and displacement histories were recorded by the loading device. The SEM enabled in-situ observation of the fiber’s initial contact with the transverse indenter and subsequent deformation, crack initiation and propagation until the final failure. Within the loading device, fiber gauge length, indenter tip radius and loading direction can be varied as desired. To demonstrate the new experimental capability, initial results for a razor blade transversely cutting a Dyneema® SK76 fiber are presented in this paper. To avoid the effect from the conductive coating on the mechanical behavior of the fiber, a low vacuum detector was adopted to capture the deformation and failure of an uncoated fiber. These experiments revealed the damage and failure processes of single fibers with high-resolution micrographs.