Constitutive equations of basalt filament tows under quasi-static and high strain rate tension

The tensile properties of basalt filament tows were tested at quasi-static (0.001 s−1) and high strain rates (up to 3000 s−1) with MTS materials tester (MTS 810.23) and split Hopkinson tension bar (SHTB), respectively. Experimental results showed that the mechanical properties of the basalt filament tows were rather sensitive to strain rate. Specifically, the stiffness and failure stress of the basalt filament tows increased distinctly as the strain rate increased, while the failure strain decreased. From scanning electronic microscope (SEM) photographs of the fracture surface, it is indicated that the basalt filament tows failed in a more brittle mode and the fracture surface got more regular as the strain rate increases. The strength distributions of the basalt filament tows have been evaluated by a single Weibull distribution function. The curve predicted from the single Weibull distribution function was in good agreement with the experimental data points.