EN 2562 is an aerospace-series standard for flexural (bending) testing of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) laminates, with loading applied parallel to the fibre direction.
It is commonly used to generate comparable flexural property data for material screening and quality control of aerospace composite laminates. If you need help mapping this standard to your laminate form, test temperature, or reporting requirements, talk with our team.
EN 2562: Aerospace series — Carbon fibre reinforced plastics — Unidirectional laminates — Flexural test parallel to the fibre direction
EN 2562 defines a standardized approach to bending tests on unidirectional CFRP laminates when the specimen orientation and loading are aligned to evaluate behaviour along the fibre direction.
Because composite flexure results are sensitive to specimen lay-up, span/support geometry, deflection measurement approach, and test environment, EN 2562 is often specified in procurement and qualification documents to keep data consistent across labs and suppliers.
Quick definition
Document type: Test method (flexural/bending test for unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced plastics).
Typical output: Flexural properties (such as flexural strength and flexural modulus) derived from a controlled bend test performed parallel to the fibre direction.
Common intent: Comparable data for screening, process control, and quality verification of unidirectional CFRP laminates used in aerospace structures.
What this standard covers
EN 2562 is focused on unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced plastic laminates and a flexural loading configuration aligned with the fibre direction.
In practice, the method is run as a controlled bending test where the specimen is supported on a fixture and loaded at a defined location while force and deflection are recorded to compute flexural response.
Why this standard matters in testing
For aerospace composites, flexural properties are frequently used to compare material batches, validate processing conditions, and support allowables development alongside other mechanical tests.
Following a defined standard helps reduce variability caused by fixture setup, alignment, and deflection measurement choices—factors that can strongly influence apparent stiffness and failure values in composite bending.
Common materials, product types, or applications covered
EN 2562 is typically applied to:
-
Unidirectional CFRP laminates (panel-based coupon specimens).
-
Aerospace composite material qualification and incoming inspection programs.
-
Supplier quality control for prepreg-based and cured laminate products where flexural performance along the fibre direction is tracked.
Common test or verification workflow
A typical EN 2562 workflow includes preparing coupons from unidirectional laminate material, conditioning the specimens when required, running a monotonic flexural test on a bend fixture, and reporting calculated flexural properties from the force–deflection response.
Practical note: Small differences in specimen thickness, support span settings, fixture roller condition, and how deflection is captured can shift results. For consistent comparisons, keep the edition of the standard, specimen orientation details, and measurement approach aligned across all lots and labs.
Equipment commonly used for this standard
EN 2562 is commonly performed using a universal testing machine configured for bending, with instrumentation suited to capturing both load and deflection accurately.
Common equipment: Electromechanical or servohydraulic load frame, three-point bend fixture with appropriate supports/loading nose, calibrated force measurement, and a deflection measurement device (crosshead displacement may be used in some setups, but direct specimen/fixture deflection measurement is often preferred for accuracy).
Common options: Environmental chamber when testing at non-ambient temperatures, and non-contact or contact displacement measurement tools depending on access, temperature range, and required resolution.
If you are selecting a load frame capacity, bend fixture size, or deflection measurement package for composite flexure work, you can request a detailed quote for a configuration matched to your specimen size and throughput.
How to read this designation or revision
Base designation: EN 2562.
Common citation format: EN 2562:1997 (year identifies the referenced edition). National adoptions may appear with prefixes such as DIN EN 2562 or UNE-EN 2562 while keeping the same core EN designation.
Revision sensitivity: Test setup and reporting details can depend on the exact edition cited in your customer or program requirements, so align your procedure to the same dated version specified on the drawing, purchase order, or qualification plan.
Related standards, methods, or frameworks
EN 2562 is often used alongside other aerospace composite coupon methods for a fuller mechanical property set (for example, tensile testing and conditioning procedures referenced in aerospace composite test programs).
When building a test plan, confirm the full matrix of required methods (tension, compression, shear, open-hole, bearing, and environmental conditioning) with the controlling material or program specification.
Get help selecting an EN 2562 testing setup
For support choosing a bend fixture configuration, deflection measurement approach, or chamber integration for composite flexure testing, contact our team with your specimen dimensions, target force range, and temperature requirements.