High strain rate compression response of carbon/epoxy laminate composites

Composite materials exhibit excellent mechanical properties over metallic materials and hence are increasingly considered for high technology applications. In many practical situations, the structures are subjected to loading at very high strain rates. Material and structural response vary significantly under such loading as compared to static loading. A structure that is expected to perform under dynamic loading conditions, if designed with the static properties, might be too conservative. Hence, it is necessary to characterize the advanced composites under high strain rate loading. In the current investigations, the response of carbon/epoxy laminated composites under high strain rate compression loading is considered using a modified split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) setup at three different strain rates of 82, 164 and 817 s⁻¹. The laminates were fabricated using 32 plies of a DA 4518 unidirectional carbon/epoxy prepreg system. Both unidirectional and cross-ply laminates were considered for the study. In the case of cross-ply laminates, the samples were tested in the thickness as well as in the in-plane direction. The unidirectional laminate samples were subjected to loading along 0° and 90° directions. Dynamic stress–strain plot was obtained for each sample and compared with the static compression test result. The results of the study indicate that the dynamic strength (with the exception of through the thickness loading of cross-ply laminates) and stiffness exhibit considerable increase as compared to the static values within the tested range of strain rates.