Crack growth resistance curves of GLARE 3 5/4 0.3 fiber-metal laminates at low temperature

The objective of this work was the evaluation of crack growth resistance curves ( J-R curves) of commercial GLARE® 3 5/4 laminates at -50 C. The experimental evaluation of these curves was performed on 50-mm-wide compact tension specimens through the unloading compliance technique. The tests were based on the ASTM E1820 standard with minor modifications. Additionally, tensile tests were also performed at -50 C on dogbone specimens according to the ASTM E8M standard. Comparisons between low and room temperature properties indicate that the material preserves both its tensile strength and fracture toughness at -50 C, although low temperature J-R curves presented smaller slopes than the room temperature ones after the onset of stable crack growth.