CLIMBING DRUM PEEL TEST FIXTURE
(ASTM D 1781)

Model No. CU-CD (steel and aluminum)

Drum with Clamp, Laminated Panel Backing Plate, and Top Clamp

The Climbing Drum Peel test was first standardized by ASTM in 1960 (Reference 1). The complete ASTM D 1781 fixture is shown in the above photograph. It attaches to the crosshead and base of the tensile testing machine via 0.50"-13 UNC threaded holes at each end. The materials of construction are as specified by the ASTM standard. For example, the drum and the bottom attachment fitting at the other end of the stainless steel flexible straps are anodized 6061-T6 aluminum (and appear as a lighter color in the photograph). Aluminum is used to control the weight of the climbing drum within the limits specified in the standard. The two specimen end clamps are low carbon steel, with hardened steel knurled roller grips. All carbon steel parts are black-oxided to reduce rusting and corrosion when kept lightly oiled.

The standard flat sandwich panel specimen is 3" wide and at least 12" long, including a 1" overhang of one of the face sheets at each end. Thickness of the core is not dictated, except that the sandwich specimen should not bend while the face sheet is being peeled. A core thickness on the order of 0.5" is typical, with face sheet thicknesses on the order of 0.020", depending upon the material system being tested.

Solid laminated specimens can also be tested using the same fixture. A 9.5" long, 1.75" wide, 0.19" thick steel backing plate is provided for this purpose, as shown in the center of the photograph. The force required to peel a layer off of the solid laminate is determined, the steel backing plate being attached to the solid laminate to prevent bending of the remainder of the laminate during the test.

The general test method is also included in MIL-STD-401B (Reference 2), but with a simpler and less effective specimen gripping system. This version, shown in the photograph below, can also be supplied if requested, but is not commonly used.

MIL-STD-401B Version of Model CU-CD
Climbing Drum Peel Test Fixture
(simple bolted clamps are used rather than the cam-action knurled grips specified in ASTM D 1781)

The following figure, taken from ASTM D 1781, indicates the usage of the fixture. Detailed additional information is contained in the standard itself, as well in Reference 3.