Determination of fatigue limit of polymeric composites in fully reversed bending loading mode using self-heating effect

In this paper, the fatigue limit in fibre-reinforced polymeric composites loaded in the fully reversed bending loading mode is investigated by using the self-heating effect occurring during such a type of testing. This approach provides the possibility of fast estimation of fatigue limit without the necessity of performing time-consuming high cycle fatigue tests. In order to validate the determined fatigue limit, the obtained results of temperature evolution were compared with the results of acoustic emission measurements. Based on the performed observations and comparisons, a structural degradation of polymeric composites subjected to cyclic loading with accompanied self-heating effect was described in terms of critical self-heating temperature concept. This allows for estimating the criticality of fatigue from the point of view of both mechanical and thermal failure.