Impact fatigue behaviour of carbon fibre-reinforced vinylester resin composites

Two types of unidirectional carbon fibre, one of high strength (DHMS) and another of medium strength (VLMS) reinforced vinylester resin composites have been examined for their impact fatigue behaviour over 10⁴ impact cycles for the first time. The study was conducted using a pendulum type repeated impact apparatus specially designed and constructed for the purpose. A well-defined impact fatigue behaviour (S-N type curve) curve has been demonstrated. It showed a plateau region of 10–10² cycles immediately below the single cycle impact strength, followed by progressive endurance with decreasing impact loads, culminating in an endurance limit at about 71% and 85% of the single impact strength for DHMS-48 and VLMS-48, respectively. Analysis of the fractured surfaces revealed primary debonding, fibre breakage and pull-out at the tensile zone of the samples and a shear mode of fracture with breakage of fibre bundles at the compressive zone of the samples. The occurrence of a few major macrocracks in the matrix with fibre breakage at the high load-low endurance region and development of multiple microcracks in the matrix, coalescing and fibre breakage at the low-load-high endurance region have been inferred to explain the fatigue behaviour of the composites examined.     

Effects of moisture on the mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced vinylester resin composites

Glass fibre reinforced vinylester resin composites incorporating varying amounts of fibres (63.5, 55.75, 48.48, 38.63 and 27.48 wt%) were characterized for their mechanical properties both as prepared and after treatment with boiling water for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h. Weights of the samples were found to increase to a saturation at about 8 h with boiling water treatment. In keeping with the composite principle, the mechanical properties improved with fibre loading. However, the properties were relatively inferior when treated with boiling water for longer hours attributing to ingress of moisture by capillary action through the interface between the fibre and the resin matrix. Considering the rates of moisture absorption and correlating with the mechanical properties, it was observed that the deteriorating effects were predominant up to 4 h treatment with boiling water. Estimation of defect concentrations for 63.5 wt% of nascent fibre reinforced composites as well as those composites treated with boiling water for 24 h were 56.93% and 64.16% respectively. Similarly, 27.48 wt% nascent fibre reinforced composites and those composites with boiling water treatment showed the estimation of defect concentrations of 39.94% and 50.55% respectively. SEM study of the fractured surfaces showed heavy fibre pull-out in the tensile zone whilst shear fracture of the fibre bundles was predominant at the compressive zone of the samples tested for flexural strength properties.     

The fatigue properties of weft-knit fabric reinforced epoxy resin composites

Carbon and glass tows were fabricated into Interlock, Full-Cardigan, Milano and Rib fabric stitches by weft-knitting. The fatigue strength of composites made from these fabrics and epoxy resin was studied in terms of the relationship of the knitting stitch and the applied direction, the stress number of the fatigue distribution, hysteresis heating, lost strength, and fatigue damage propagation rate. In addition, by using the above composites, we compared the fatigue strength with plain-weave fabric composites.

The weft-knit composites loaded by fixed cantilever bending showed that the wale direction had a greater stiffness than the course direction. The Interlock fabric composite provides the highest fatigue resistance in these weft-knit stitches. However, the fatigue strength of a plain-weave fabric composite is higher than that of the weft-knit fabric composites. In a fatigue test, the hysteresis heating is below 60°C. On the other hand, the fatigue resistance ability can be increased about 40–60% by a sandwich lamination method.     

Static and fatigue characterisation of new basalt fibre reinforced composites

Basalt reinforced composites are recently developed materials. These mineral amorphous fibres are a valid alternative to carbon fibres for their lower cost, and to glass fibres for their strength. In order to use basalt reinforced composites for structural applications, it is necessary to perform a mechanical characterisation. With this aim in the present work experimental results of several static and fatigue tests are described. Two polymeric matrices are taken into account, vinylester and epoxy, to assess their influence on the evaluated parameters. In parallel to these mechanical tests, also the thermal answer of the specimens to mechanical loads is evaluated by means of thermography. This experimental technique allows defining the composite local heating during the application of mechanical loads and its behaviour in details. Final discussion on obtained results is proposed focussing the attention on basalt fibre composite behaviour, and comparing mechanical properties of BFRP with other composite materials in glass and carbon fibres.     

纤维增强聚合物基复合材料的低温性能

对纤维增强聚合物基复合材料在低温领域的实际应用进行了分类介绍,通过对纤维增强聚合物基复合材料的低温性能、性能影响因素和作用机理、低温应用安全性等方面的研究工作进行总结,突出各类纤维增强聚合物基复合材料低温下的性能优势,阐明了材料性能的不足之处及相应改进措施.对于实际低温应用中纤维增强聚合物基复合材料的选择、性能设计优化,系统安全性的增强提供了参考作用.     

Effects of static–fatigue (tension) on the tension–tension fatigue life of glass fibre reinforced plastic composites

The effects of static–fatigue interaction on tension–tension fatigue life of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites were investigated. This paper proposed a new static–fatigue model, which is capable of predicting residual strength after a period of static loading. Also an algorithm is proposed to calculate fatigue lives with the inclusion of static–fatigue interaction. Predictions from the proposed static–fatigue model show a good agreement with the experimental results. Static–fatigue interaction has shown a considerable effect on fatigue lives of GFRP composites at intermediate and lower applied stress levels possibly due to a longer exposure to applied loads. At higher load levels approximately greater than 65% of ultimate stress, and higher stress ratios range like 0.5 < R < 0.9, fatigue lives shown to be closer to material’s static–fatigue limits which is shorter than the expected lifetime by cyclic fatigue.     

碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料高速冲击性能

采用树脂传递模塑(RTM)工艺制备碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料,通过空气炮冲击实验研究树脂韧性和碳纤维类型对复合材料抗高速冲击性能的影响,并对高速冲击后的试样进行压缩性能测试,研究高速冲击损伤对复合材料剩余压缩性能的影响。结果表明:树脂的韧性可以降低复合材料遭受高速冲击时的内部损伤程度,大幅提高复合材料的抗高速冲击性能和冲击后剩余压缩性能;T700S碳纤维增强复合材料抗高速冲击性能优于T800H碳纤维增强复合材料;复合材料的破坏模式与冲击速率有关,冲击速率较低时,复合材料弹击面出现圆形凹坑,背弹面出现鼓包;冲击速率较高时,复合材料弹击面出现圆形通孔,背弹面出现沿纤维方向撕裂断口。     

Damage behaviour of laminated composites during fatigue loading

This study deals with the modelling of damage evolution in the carbon/epoxy laminated composites under static and fatigue loading. A cumulative damage model is developed on the basis of damage evolution due to static and fatigue during cyclic loading. A continuum damage mechanics (CDM)‐based damage model coupling with the micromechanics has been utilized to predict the fatigue behaviour of laminate composites. A multicriterion approach has been introduced to predict the damage behaviour in the longitudinal, transverse, and shear direction at the ply scale. Extensive experimental results on T300/EPL1012 carbon/epoxy laminates are prepared to characterize under static and fatigue loading and to evaluate the proposed model in different conditions. The obtained results show that at the beginning of the cyclic loading, the damage grows suddenly and increases until final failure, which justifies the proposed method is able to predict the evolution of the damage due to static and fatigue loading separately during cyclic loading. The obtained results show that considering damage due to static loading leads to more accurate results, particularly in low‐cycle fatigue.     

Recycling of carbon fibre reinforced composites using water in subcritical conditions

In this paper, a method of chemical recycling of thermosetting epoxy composite was discussed. Water was used to be reaction medium and the decomposition of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composites was studied. Experiments were devised in order to identify the significant process parameters that affect fibre reinforced composite recovery potential including temperature, time, catalyst, feedstock, and pressure. Experiments were performed in a batch-type reactor without stirring. Under the condition that the temperature was 260 °C and the ratio of resin and water was 1:5 g/mL, the decomposition rate could reach 100 wt.% and the carbon fibres were obtained. The results from the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) measurements showed that the fibres were clean and no cracks or defects were found. The average tensile strength of the reclaimed fibres was about 98.2% than that of the virgin fibres.     

复合材料层合板冲击后压-压疲劳寿命预测方法

针对冲击后复合材料层合板, 发展了含冲击初始损伤层合板的压-压疲劳寿命预测方法。该方法基于无损单向板的力学性能和疲劳特性, 对不同铺层参数、 不同几何尺寸以及不同冲击条件下层合板的疲劳寿命进行预测。为消除人为假设冲击损伤造成的误差, 对层合板在冲击载荷及冲击后疲劳载荷作用下的破坏进行全程分析, 即把冲击后层合板的实际损伤状态直接作为疲劳分析的初始状态。同时基于逐渐损伤思想, 推导了含冲击初始损伤层合板的应力分析过程, 建立了相应的三维逐渐累积损伤模型, 开发了参数化的复合材料层合结构冲击及冲击后疲劳破坏模拟程序, 为复合材料层合结构的抗冲击设计及其疲劳损伤扩展行为研究提供了较好的技术平台。      

Low-velocity impact response of non-woven hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites: Influence of impactor geometry and impact velocity

In this study, the influence of varying impactor geometries on the impact damage characteristics of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were subjected to a low-velocity impact loading using an instrumented falling weight impact test setup. The three varying tup geometries: hemispherical, 30° and 90°, at four different impact velocity levels: 2.52 m/s, 2.71 m/s, 2.89 m/s and 2.97 m/s were assessed. The experimental results to investigate the influence of impactor geometry suggest that HFRUP composites were able to withstand higher loads when tested with hemispherical impactor and also absorbed more energy than that for 90° and 30° shaped tup geometry. The post impact damage patterns and failure mechanisms of impacted samples were further characterised by ultrasonic (UT) inspection. Impact induced damage characterised by scanning electron microscope (SEM) suggests that damage induced by the impact included a typical failure mechanisms showing matrix cracking, fibre breakage and fibre pullout. As the impact velocity increases the damage to back face of the laminate increased for laminates tested with a hemispherical impactor while it decreased to certain extent for laminates tested with 90° and 30° impactor geometries.     

Tensile,creep and fatigue behaviours of short fibre reinforced polymer composites at elevated temperatures: a literature survey

Polymer composites are suitable alternatives to metals in some applications as they are cost effective, lightweight and corrosion resistant. Short fibre reinforced polymer composites (SFRPCs) are typically subjected to complex loadings in applications, including static, cyclic, thermal and their combinations. These applications may also involve harsh environmental conditions such as elevated temperature and moisture which can dramatically affect mechanical properties. In this paper, a broad survey of the literature on mechanical behaviour of SFRPCs at elevated temperatures is presented. The mechanical behaviours included consist of tensile, creep, isothermal fatigue, thermo‐mechanical fatigue and creep–fatigue interaction. Environmental effects such as moisture and ageing at elevated temperatures are also included. The studies reviewed include experimental works, modelling works and failure mechanisms studies. A critical assessment of the information from the literature presented for each type of behaviour is also provided.     

Impact and subsequent fatigue damage growth in carbon fibre laminates

The influence of the ply stacking sequence on the impact resistance and subsequent O-tension fatigue performance of carbon fibre laminates has been investigated. Drop-weight impact tests were conducted on a range of 16 ply carbon fibre laminates with either all non-woven plies or mixtures of woven and non-woven plies. Damaged coupons were tested in O-tension fatigue for up to 10⁶ cycles, scanned using an ultrasonic probe and then loaded in tension until failure.The impact resistance and subsequent fatigue performance have been found to be sensitive to the ply stacking sequence. The non-woven composites showed a marked sensitivity to impact loading, but increases in residual static strength were noted after cycling. The inclusion of a woven fabric served to improve the impact resistance of the laminates. Fatigue cycling resulted in considerably improved residual static strengths; by 10⁶ cycles any effect of the impact damage had been removed.     

连续玄武岩纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料抗冲击性能研究

制备了连续玄武岩纤维增强的环氧树脂基复合材料靶板,并进行了抗冲击性能测试,研究了影响其抗冲击性能的主要因素及抗冲击机理.结果表明,表面处理会使复合材料抗冲击性能下降;而降低织物面密度、提高纤维体积含量可以使复合材料抗冲击性能得到提高.复合材料靶板的主要能量吸收形式为靶板局部变形、分层和纤维拉伸、剪切断裂及纤维拔脱.     

Fatigue in fibre metal laminates: The interplay between fatigue in metals and fatigue in composites

With the introduction of fibre metal laminates (FMLs) as a (fatigue) damage tolerant material concept in aeronautics, an interesting field emerged where fatigue damage interaction plays a dominant role. The hybrid concept effectively demands evaluating fatigue damage growth based on fracture phenomena typical for both metals and fibre‐reinforced composites that continuously interact with each other. This paper explains current understanding of the fatigue fracture phenomena in FMLs, and it demonstrates how this interaction limits the criticality of both the metallic and composite fracture phenomena. In addition, it explains how the laminated hybrid configuration can be further exploited scientifically to unravel the physics of the individual fatigue fracture phenomena.     

The low velocity impact response of non-woven hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites

Hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites (HFRUPE) were subjected to low velocity impact tests in order to study the effects of non-woven hemp fibre reinforcement on their impact properties. HFRUPE composites specimens containing 0, 0.06, 0.10, 0.15, 0.21 and 0.26 fibre volume fractions (V_f) were prepared and their impact response compared with samples containing an equivalent fibre volume fraction of chopped strand mat E-glass fibre reinforcement. Post-impact damage was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A significant improvement in load bearing capability and impact energy absorption was found following the introduction hemp fibre as reinforcement. The results indicate a clear correlation between fibre volume fractions, stiffness of the composite laminate, impact load and total absorbed energy. Unreinforced unsaturated polyester control specimens exhibited brittle fracture behaviour with a lower peak load, lower impact energy and less time to fail than hemp reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. The impact test results show that the total energy absorbed by 0.21 fibre volume fraction (four layers) of hemp reinforced specimens is comparable to the energy absorbed by the equivalent fibre volume fraction of chopped strand mat E-glass fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composite specimens.     

Fatigue strength of tubular carbon fibre composites under bending/torsion loading

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites have been increasingly used on structures frequently subjected to biaxial fatigue loadings. This paper studies the fatigue behaviour of tubular carbon fibre composites under in phase biaxial bending/torsion dynamic loadings. Particularly, it was analysed both the torsion stress and mean stress effects on the fatigue strength and failure mechanisms. Fatigue strength decreases significantly with increased torsional/bending stresses ratio, while the damage becomes faster. For the cases in which a torsion loading was applied the effect of the mean stress on the fatigue strength seems to be well fitted by using a quadratic equation.     

UVA紫外辐射对室内碳纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料性能的影响

研究了Ultraviolet A(UVA)紫外辐射对碳纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料产生的影响。测量和分析了从窗户照射到室内太阳光和日光灯辐射的UVA紫外线辐照度, 研究了碳纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料经辐照度为200 μW·cm^-2的UVA紫外灯辐射处理后的力学性能变化, 并通过XPS、 接触角、 纳米压痕、 原子力显微镜(AFM)测试方法研究了其表面性能变化。结果表明: 春夏季节晴天室内太阳光紫外辐照度在14点时达到最大值, 距离窗户0 m处最大值为375 μW·cm^-2, 1 m处最大值迅速降至30 μW·cm^-2; 对功率40 W的日光灯, 距离日光灯0 m处, 紫外辐照度为87.3 μW·cm^-2, 1 m处快速降至5.4 μW·cm^-2; 经过45天的紫外辐射, 碳纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料的层间剪切强度、 弯曲强度和拉伸强度无明显变化; 碳纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料表面发生氧化反应, 表面硬度和粗糙度变大。     

多轴向玻璃纤维增强树脂基复合材料的破坏特性和损伤机制

通过对玻纤增强环氧乙烯基酯树脂(GF/EVE)和玻璃纤维增强不饱和聚酯树脂(GF/UP)复合材料的多轴向铺层设计试件进行低速冲击、弯曲和剪切破坏性力学试验,分析了不同铺层方式的GF/EVE和GF/UP复合材料冲击、弯曲和剪切载荷作用下产生的损伤及失效模式。结果表明:在铺层设计与工艺相同的情况下,CF/EVE的弯曲强度、冲击韧性均优于CF/UP;[0,90]6试件冲击能量吸收性能优于其他五种铺层方式;铺设角设计、树脂基体类型、铺层厚度对层合板剪切力学性能的影响较小。并基于SEM与超声C扫描成像检测(C-SAM)对复合材料的微观界面脱粘机制及损伤演化行为进行阐释。     

Interfacial damage in fibre‐reinforced composites subjected to tension fatigue loading

ABSTRACT The interfacial behaviour of fibre‐reinforced composites subjected to tension fatigue loading is studied based on the shear‐lag model. The governing equations of this problem are obtained and solved. In order to describe the interfacial debonding, the Paris fatigue crack growth formula as well as a modified degradation model for the coefficient of friction is adopted. Finally some important values related to interfacial debonding are obtained. In the present investigation, Poisson's contraction is considered.