Compressive fracture behavior of 3D needle-punched carbon/carbon composites

Compressive fracture behavior under transverse and longitudinal compressive loading are determined for 3D needle-punched carbon/carbon (C/C) composites with single rough laminar (RL) pyrocarbon matrix or dual matrix of RL pyrocarbon and resin carbon. The results of Weibull statistics analysis indicate that scale parameter σ₀ of transverse and longitudinal compression of the composites with single matrix are 153.41 and 94.26 MPa, and σ₀ of the composites with dual matrix are 205.16 and 105.33 MPa, respectively. The mean compressive strength of both composites is nearly equal to σ₀ under each experimental condition. Failure modes of both composites under transverse and longitudinal compressive loading are shear and extension, respectively. Both composites exhibit quasi-ductile fracture behavior under transverse compression. Many small fragments of fibers and matrix carbon on the fracture surface of the composites are observed for single matrix composites. And the fiber bundle breakage with extensive debonding occurs for dual matrix composites. Under longitudinal loading, the composites with single matrix show quasi-ductile fracture behavior and delamination and splitting of non-woven long carbon fiber cloth layers are observed. The composites with dual matrix exhibit catastrophic failure behavior and crack runs through the composites along compressive loading direction.