Compressive properties of single-filament carbon fibres

Compressive properties of mesophase pitch-based carbon fibres (NT-20, NT-40 and NT-60) were measured using the tensile recoil test and the elastica loop test. The NT-40 fibre with a 400 GPa tensile modulus showed a smaller loop compressive yield strain and a larger recoil compressive strength compared to these values obtained from the longitudinal compression test on its unidirectional composites. Further, the recoil compressive strength of this fibre was higher than that of PAN-based carbon fibre with a corresponding modulus. Under the ideal conditions in the tensile recoil test, the strain energy was conserved before and after recoil, and the initial tensile stress and the recoil compressive stress do not coincide when fibre stress-strain behaviour is non-linear, and the non-linearity in compression and in tension is different. The difference between the composite compressive strength and the recoil compressive strength of NT-40 was quantitatively explained by taking account of the fibre compressive stress-strain non-linear relation. The difference between the loop compressive yield strain and the composite compressive strain to failure was also explained by this non-linearity.     

Non-linear elastic behaviour of flexible fibre composites

An elastic constitutive model is developed for flexible fibre composites which are composed of continuous curved fibres and ductile matrices. The prediction of non-linear stress/strain responses of the composites is performed by a stepwise incremental analysis. Numerical results of the uniaxial tensile stress/strain relations are obtained for several types of composites, containing glass or Kevlar fibres in an elastomeric polymer. Unique properties of the flexible composites are: (1) low Young's modulus in the range of low applied stress and high modulus in the range of high applied stress; (2) enhanced elongation; and (3) high energy associated with deformation.     

考虑应变梯度效应的三点弯梁模型解析研究--第二部分:局部化带的位移及转角

基于梯度塑性理论,分析了应变软化及真实裂纹扩展阶段的局部化带的张拉位移和转角。在弹性阶段,可以由弹性理论来确定二者的关系。真实裂纹出现后,利用平衡条件、几何条件及梯度以来的应变软化本构关系,得到了真实裂纹长度与局部化带长度的关系。当真实裂纹刚出现时,局部化带长度达到最大值。在任何阶段,局部化带到中性轴的距离单调降低,局部化带的张拉位移和转角受梁深、带宽、弹模及下降模量等的影响。弹模及下降模量越大,带宽越小,则局部化带的张拉位移和转角都增加。而且,在前两个阶段,张拉位移都线性增加,但在后两个阶段,转角都非线性增加。     

Tensile properties of carbon fibres and carbon fibre–polymer composites in fire

The effect of fire on the tensile properties of carbon fibres is experimentally determined to provide new insights into the tensile performance of carbon fibre–polymer composite materials during fire. Structural tests on carbon–epoxy laminate reveal that thermally-activated weakening of the fibre reinforcement is the dominant softening process which leads to failure in the event of a fire. This process is experimentally investigated by determining the reduction to the tensile properties and identifying the softening mechanism of T700 carbon fibre following exposure to simulated fires of different temperatures (up to 700 °C) and atmospheres (air and inert). The fibre modulus decreases with increasing temperature (above ～500 °C) in air, which is attributed to oxidation of the higher stiffness layer in the near-surface fibre region. The fibre modulus is not affected when heated in an inert (nitrogen) atmosphere due to the absence of surface oxidation, revealing that the stiffness loss of carbon fibre composites in fire is sensitive to the oxygen content. The tensile strength of carbon fibre is reduced by nearly 50% following exposure to temperatures over the range 400–700 °C in an air or inert atmosphere. Unlike the fibre modulus, the reduction in fibre strength is insensitive to the oxygen content of the atmosphere during fire. The reduction in strength is possibly attributable to very small (under ～100 nm) flaws and removal of the sizing caused by high temperature exposure.     

Dynamic properties of pultruded natural fibre reinforced composites using Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar technique

The paper presents results on dynamic mechanical properties of jute, and kenaf fibre reinforced composites at various strain rates using compression Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar technique. The stress–strain curves for both pultruded natural fibre reinforced composites at strain rates of nearly 1400 s⁻¹ are illustrated and then compared with statically determines stress–strain curve (1.0 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹). Results show that the strain rate does affect the value of dynamic compressive properties of both pultruded natural fibre composites. Higher dynamic compression modulus and 2.5% flow stress were recorded for higher strain rates as compared to lower strain rate over the range of strain rates investigated. Under dynamic loading, jute fibre reinforced composites recorded the highest value of dynamic response in terms of compression modulus, 2.5% flow stress and compressive strength than that of kenaf fibre reinforced composites. In addition, kenaf fibre reinforced composites is more severely damaged as compared to jute fibre reinforced composites for all tested strain rate.     

Plasma surface modification of advanced organic fibres

The interlaminar shear strength, interlaminar fracture energy, flexural strength and modulus of extended-chain polyethylene/epoxy composites are improved substantially when the fibres are pretreated in an ammonia plasma to introduce amine groups on to the fibre surface. These property changes are examined in terms of the microscopic properties of the fibre/matrix interface. Fracture surface micrographs show clean interfacial tensile and shear fracture in composites made from untreated fibres, indicative of a weak interfacial bond. In contrast, fracture surfaces of composites made from ammonia plasma-treated fibres exhibit fibre fibrillation and internal shear failure as well as matrix cracking, suggesting stronger fibre/matrix bonding, in accord with the observed increase in interlaminar fracture energy and shear strength. Failure of flexural test specimens occurs exclusively in compression, and the enhanced flexural strength and modulus of composites containing plasma-treated fibres result mainly from reduced compressive fibre buckling and debonding due to stronger interfacial bonding. Fibre treatment by ammonia plasma also causes an appreciable loss in the transverse ballistic impact properties of the composite, in accord with a higher fibre/matrix interfacial bond strength.     

Influence of water ageing on mechanical properties and damage events of two reinforced composite materials: Flax–fibres and glass–fibres

Moisture absorption and durability in water environment are major concerns for natural fibres as reinforcement in composites. This paper presents a study on the influence of water ageing on mechanical properties and damage events of flax–fibre composites, compared with glass–fibre composites. The effects of the immersion treatment on the tensile characteristics, water absorption and acoustic emission (AE) recording were investigated. The water absorption results for the flax–fibre composites show that the evolution appears to be Fickian and the saturated weight gain is 12 times as high that the glass–fibre composites. Decreasing continuously with increasing water immersion time, the tensile modulus and the failure strain of flax–fibre composites are hardly affected by water ageing whereas only the tensile stress is reduced regarding the glass–fibre composites. AE indicate that matrix–fibres interface weakening is the main damage mechanism induced by water ageing for both composites.     

Constitutive modeling for large deformation behavior of thermoplastic olefin

A constitutive model has been developed to capture the rate-dependent large deformation behavior of the polypropylene (PP)/elastomer/inorganic filler ternary phase thermoplastic olefin (TPO). As the TPO exhibits elastic behavior of each constituent phase during elastic deformation and shear yielding of PP matrix after linear elastic loading. The elastic modulus of the composite is predicted using micromechanics theory. The viscoplastic behavior of TPO is described by a model which includes rate and temperature dependent yield, strain softening, and strain hardening. The material properties of the model are obtained from the uniaxial tensile test and then the model is examined for its ability to predict the response in deformation. It is proved that the large deformation features of the TPO composites are well described by the constitutive model.     

The effects of deforming knitted glass fabrics on the basic composite mechanical properties

The effects of deforming knitted fabrics on the tensile and compressive properties of their composites have been investigated for the weft-knit Milano rib fibre architecture. The properties have been studied for both the course and wale directions for composites with fabrics deformed in either of the two directions. It was found that any change in the mechanical properties of the deformed composites with respect to their undeformed counterpart is strongly related to the changes in the knit structure brought about by the induced deformation to the knitted fabric. Deformation in the knitted fabric also affects the tensile fracture mode whereby increased deformation, be it wale- or course-wise, transforms transverse fracture to shear fracture in either loading axis. On the contrary, the compressive fracture mode is insensitive to fabric deformation. Fractographic studies using stereo-optical and scanning electron microscopy have further revealed that tensile failure is caused by fibre breakages occurring at two locations of the knitted loops—one, at the leg components and, two, at fibre crossover points, whilst compression failure is controlled by Euler buckling of the looped fibres of the knitted composite. All these characteristics were revealed to be related to the microstructure of the knitted composite laminates.     

The compression strength of composites with kinked,misaligned and poorly adhering fibres

Experiments carried out on pultruded fibre reinforced polyester resins show that, at moderate fibre volume fractions, the compressive strength of aligned fibre composites depends linearly on the volume fraction. The strength falls off when the fibre volume fraction,V _f=0.4 with Kevlar and high strength carbon fibres. The effective fibre strength atV _f<0.4 is much less than the tensile strength but it is close to the tensile strength with E-glass fibres and high modulus carbon fibres. Poor adhesion between fibres and matrix reduces the compressive strength, as does kinking the fibres when the fibre radius of curvature is reduced to below 5 mm. Misalignment of the fibres reduces the compressive strength when the average angle of misalignment exceeds about 10° for glass and carbon fibres. However, with Kevlar no such reduction is observed because the compression strength of Kevlar reinforced resin is only a very little better than that of the unreinforced resin.     

Compressional behaviour of carbon fibres

The axial compressive strain to failure of various types of PAN-based carbon fibres was measured by applying small and defined compressive loads to single filaments which have been bonded to a rectangular polymer cantilever beam and parallel to its long edge. By monitoring the Raman frequencies along the fibre with the 2 m laser probe of a Raman microscope, the critical compressive strain required for first fibre failure could be assessed and the residual load that each type of fibre supported after first failure, could be measured. Estimates of the compressive moduli for all fibres could, also, be obtained by considering the dependence of the Raman frequency upon compressive strain in the elastic region. The critical compressive strain to failure was found to decrease with fibre modulus and its value was, approximately, equal to 50% of the tensile fracture strain. However, for some low-modulus fibres the compressive strain to failure was found to approach the tensile fracture strain. The initial compressive moduli of high-modulus fibres were estimated to decrease up to a maximum of 10% with respect to their tensile moduli, whereas more significant reductions were found in the case of intermediate and low-modulus fibres.     

Deformation and fracture behaviour of flax fibre reinforced thermosetting polymer matrix composites

The mechanical properties of unidirectional flax fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester resin composites were studied with particular emphasis on their tensile deformation behaviour. These materials displayed characteristic non-linear behaviour when loaded parallel to the axis of the fibre, with a distinct knee preceding a drop in stiffness. Further deformation resulted in strain hardening behaviour. Load cycling and acoustic emissions analysis were used to investigate the nature of the knee and it was found that this corresponded with yielding behaviour in the composite. A well-defined yield point could be identified, which in composites of around 60% fibre volume fraction, occurred at a strain of some 0.12% and a tensile stress of 32 MPa. Varying the interfacial properties, through chemical modification of the fibre prior to lamination, was found to have a marked effect upon the onset of yielding and the yield point itself, as well as the deformation and fracture behaviour of the laminate. It is considered that this behaviour is intimately linked to the straining behaviour of the fibre as well as the fibre–matrix interaction and hypotheses to explain the observed behaviour are presented.     

Analysis of the flax fibres tensile behaviour and analysis of the tensile stiffness increase

The knowledge of the behaviour of flax fibres is of crucial importance for their use as a reinforcement for composites materials. Flax fibres were tested under tensile loading and in repeated loading–unloading experiments. We have shown that fibre stiffness increases with the strain.This phenomenon is attributed to the orientation of the fibrils with the axis of the fibre when a strain occurs. By using micro-mechanical equations, the Young's modulus of a flax fibre is estimated by taking into account the composition of the fibre and the evolution of the orientation of the fibrils during a tensile test. A good agreement is found between experimental and calculated results. The origin of the large spread observed in the mechanical characteristics is analysed here.     

The adiabatic fracture of thermoplastic fibres

The development of methods for measuring true stresses and strains in thermoplastics and of models for representing the results, makes it possible to predict polymer performance in a number of ways. Recently this method was used to study the stability of the tensile deformation of high-density polyethylene under adiabatic conditions. It was proposed that at high strain rates, thermomechanical softening would render the plastic deformation process unstable, promoting localised deformation and fracture. In this paper, the isothermal extension process measured at different temperatures is assumed to be stopped and then restarted after different draw ratios have been attained, as in the drawing of a fibre. In this way the effect of draw ratio on fibre tensile properties can then be predicted. It is shown that, with fast deformation under adiabatic conditions, the softening effect due to the increase in temperature exceeds the opposing influence of strain hardening so that the nominal stress is predicted to fall continuously with increased strain. This leads to a ductile fracture process, which, in a fibre, can generate mushroom shaped blobs of polymer at the broken ends. This effect has previously been reported by Hearle and co-workers. The applicability of the model to different type of fibre is considered.     

Compressional behaviour of carbon fibres

Spectroscopic-mechanical studies have been conducted on a range of carbon fibres by bonding single filaments on the top surface of a cantilever beam. Such a loading configuration allows the acquisition of the Raman spectrum of carbon fibres and the derivation of the Raman frequency strain dependence in tension and compression. Strain hardening phenomena in tension and strain softening phenomena in compression were closely observed. The differences in the slopes of the Raman frequency versus applied strain curves in tension and compression respectively, have been used to obtain good estimates of the compression moduli. A method of converting the fibre Raman frequency versus strain data into stress-strain curves in both tension and compression, is demonstrated. Values of fibre stress and fibre modulus at failure in compression compare exceptionally well with corresponding estimates deduced from full composite data. The mode of failure in compression has been found to depend upon the carbon fibre structure. It is demonstrated that certain modifications in the manufacturing technology of PAN-based fibres can lead to fibres which show resistance to catastrophic compressive failure without significant losses in the fibre compressive modulus.     

A study of mechanisms of stress transfer in continuous- and discontinuous-fibre model composites by laser Raman spectroscopy

The micromechanics of stress transfer in single-fibre/epoxy-resin model composites has been investigated. Two specimen geometries are examined incorporating both continuous and discontinuous fibres in epoxy resin blocks. In both cases, the point-by-point strain in the fibre is measured from the fibre Raman spectrum and its strain dependence. The continuous-fibre model composites (CFMC) are subjected to incremental tensile loading and the fibre fragmentation process is continuously monitored. The short-fibre model composites (SFMC) are loaded incrementally to levels of stress of sufficient magnitude to cause interfacial failure and the fibre strain profiles are obtained at each level of applied stress.

In addition to fibre strain measurements, the interfacial shear stress distribution is derived at each increment of applied stress by means of a balance-of-forces argument. The effects of fibre surface treatment and fibre modulus on the strain transfer profile and the distribution of the interfacial shear stress along the fibre are examined. The importance of parameters such as fibre/matrix debonding and interphase yielding in the vicinity of fibre breaks or fibre ends is discussed.     

Eigenspannung im mit gasdruckunterstütztem Feingussverfahren hergestellten langfaserverstärkten Aluminium‐Matrix‐Verbundwerkstoff

Residual Stress in Continuous Fibre Reinforced Aluminium Matrix Composites Prepared by Modified Investment Casting The residual stresses between matrix und fibres in the continuous γ‐Al₂O₃ fibre reinforced aluminium alloy (AlZn6Mg1Ag1) matrix composites prepared by modified investment casting were measured with x‐ray diffraction as well as simulated with FEM. It was indicated as expected that tensile residual stress exists in the Matrix und compressive residual in the fibre. The average value of the residual stress in both matrix and fibre in the composites is not very significant. However it is distributed very unevenly. Next to the interface between matrix and fibre there is a small zone in the matrix with relative great tensile residual stress. The effect of fibre volume percentage on the residual stress in the composite was also analysed. With increase of the fibre volume percentage the tensile residual stress in the matrix increases while the compressive residual stress in the fibre decreases. If the fibre volume percentage in the composite exceeds 65 %, the maximal tensile residual stress will reach the yield stress of the matrix alloy and local plastic deformation will occur.     

Tensile properties and failure mechanisms of 3D woven GRP composites

Tensile tests were performed on glass reinforced polymer (GRP) composites with three-dimensional (3D) orthogonal, normal layered interlock, and offset layered interlock woven fibre architectures. The mechanical properties and failure mechanisms under tensile loading were similar for the three composites. Cracks formed at low strains within the resin-rich channels between the fibre tows and around the through-thickness binder yarns in the composites, although this damage did not alter the tensile properties. At higher applied tensile stresses the elastic modulus was reduced by 20–30% due to inelastic tow straightening and cracking around the most heavily crimped in-plane tows. Further softening occurred at higher strains by inelastic straightening of all the tows. Composite failure occurred within a localised region and the discrete tow rupture events that have caused tow lock-up and pullout mechanisms in other 3D woven composites were not observed.     

Shear capacity of steel and polymer fibre reinforced concrete beams

This paper deals with the application of a plasticity model for shear strength estimation of fibre reinforced concrete beams without stirrups. When using plastic theory to shear problems in structural concrete, the so-called effective strengths are introduced, usually determined by calibrating the plastic solutions with tests. This approach is, however, problematic when dealing with fibre reinforced concrete (FRC), as the effective strengths depend also on the type and the amount of fibres. In this paper, it is suggested that the effective tensile strength of FRC can be determined on the basis of the tensile stress-crack opening relationship found from wedge splitting tests. To determine the effective compressive strength of FRC, it is proposed to adopt the formula used for conventional concrete and modify it by introducing a fibre enhancement factor to describe the effect of fibres on the compressive softening behaviour of FRC. The enhancement factor is determined as the ratio of the areas below the stress–strain curves for FRC and for conventional concrete. The outlined approach has been verified by shear testing of beams containing no fibres, 0.5% steel fibre volume and 0.5% polymer fibre volume. The tests results are compared with estimations and show satisfactory agreements, indicating that the proposed approach can be used.     

Fatigue behaviour of metallic fibre-reinforced materials: a study of steel fibre-reinforced silver

Low-cycle fatigue tests were performed on silver matrix-steel-fibre-reinforced composites (FRC) with unidirectionally aligned fibres of constant volume-fraction,V _f=0.35. The influence of various material parameters, namely the fibre and matrix strengths, the interfacial bond strength and the mean fibre diameter, was examined. Low-cycle fatigue hardening and softening of FRCs deviate from the behaviour expected from the properties of the components. The differences are mainly based on a specific deformation or recrystallization structure of the composite matrix. The shapes of the stress—strain hysteresis loops are discussed qualitatively and compared to the experimental results. The comparison of fatigue life for different material conditions shows that the design of low-cycle fatigue-resistant metallic-fibre composites requires material criteria similar to those known to be responsible for high ultimate tensile strengths. The criteria may be varied if the composites are subjected to high-cycle fatigue loading.