The role of microdamage in tensile failure of graphite/epoxy laminates

Damage development during quasistatic tensile loading of several laminates of graphite/epoxy material is examined and compared to damage development in laminates of a similar graphite/epoxy material subjected to tension-tension fatigue loading. Emphasis is placed upon following damage development at the microstructural level. Evidence of the important role of off-axis ply cracks in localizing and controlling fiber fracture in adjacent load-bearing plies for both loading modes is resented. The relationship between fiber fracture density and static load level is presented for tensile loading of unidirectional and cross-ply laminates by direct observation of fiber fracture in situ. The frequencies of occurrence of multiple adjacent fiber fractures are also reported. The cross-ply laminate results are compared with those from fatigue testing. Significant differences are described and discussed.     

Effect of fiber surface texture on the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite

The effect of fiber sizing and surface texture on the strength and energy absorbing capacity of fiber reinforced composites has been evaluated at two length scales using the macromechanical quasi-static punch shear test and the micromechanical microdroplet test methods. E-Glass/SC-79 epoxy composite laminates with four different fiber sizing formulations with various degrees of chemical bonding and surface texture have been investigated. The failure modes during perforation and different energy dissipating damage mechanisms were identified and quantified. The punch shear strength and the total energy absorption per unit volume of composite with hybrid sizing have increased by 48% and 100% over the incompatible sizing. These results showed linear correlations with the interphase properties reported earlier by the authors (Gao et al., 2011) and provided a methodology for developing new sizing by tailoring chemical bonding and the fiber surface texture at the fiber–matrix interphase for improving both strength and energy absorption of composites.     

Viscoelastic micromechanical modeling of free edge and time effects in glass fiber/epoxy cross-ply laminates

A viscoelastic finite element analysis has been carried out to investigate the free edge and time effects in a [0/90]_ns glass fiber/epoxy cross-ply laminate, subjected to mechanical loads. The analysis is based on a three-dimensional micromechanical model that predicts the stress/strain field at the fiber and matrix levels near the free edge surface of the cross-ply laminate. The epoxy matrix is represented by a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model. In addition, two different damage criteria for the matrix cracking and interface debonding have been introduced into the model, which were incorporated into the finite element analysis program, adina, through the user-defined subroutine. Damage initiation as well as damage growth in the cross-ply laminate is predicted by the present model. It is found that the edge effect is more dominant in the damage initiation process and its influence on the global properties of cross-ply laminate, is not significant. Under a constant load, it is possible for the damage to grow further due to the viscosity of the matrix and the stress/strain redistribution in the cross-ply laminate.     

Effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical behavior of carbon fiber/epoxy matrix composites

A carbon fiber/epoxy unidirectional laminated composite was exposed to a humid environment and the effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical properties and failure modes was investigated. The composites were exposed to three humidity conditions, namely, 25, 55, and 95 % at a constant temperature of 25 °C. The carbon fiber–epoxy laminated composites for two different carbon fiber surface treatments were used. The results showed that the mechanical properties differ considerably for each fiber surface treatment. The application of a coupling agent enhanced the fiber-matrix adhesion and reduced dependence of the properties on humidity. The damage mechanism observed at micromechanical level was correlated to acoustic emission signals from both laminated composites. The untreated carbon fiber failure mode was attributed to fiber-matrix interfacial failure and for the silane-treated carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminate attributed to matrix yielding followed by fiber failure with no signs of fiber-matrix interface failure for moisture contents up to 1.89 %.     

CALL混杂复合材料的弯曲试验研究

本文用高灵敏度云纹干涉法对CALL混杂复合材料在纤维方向和垂直于纤维方向的弯曲及破坏特性进行了实验研究,得到了弯曲试件横截面上的剪应变分布规律及破坏形式。实验结果表明:碳纤维/环氧树脂层的剪应变明显大于铝层的剪应变,但各自沿截面呈抛物线分布。纤维方向弯曲试件的破坏形式是分层或碳纤维/环氧树脂层剪切破坏;垂直于纤维方向弯曲试件的破坏由受拉面碳纤维/环氧树脂层的拉伸破坏所致。本文工作为进一步深入研究CALL材料的力学性能提供了重要的实验依据。     

缝合复合材料层板低速冲击损伤数值模拟

建立了缝合复合材料层板在低速冲击载荷下的渐进损伤分析模型。模型中采用空间杆单元模拟缝线的作用;采用三维实体单元模拟缝合层板,通过基于应变描述的Hashin准则,结合相应的材料性能退化方案模拟层板的损伤和演化;采用界面单元模拟层间界面,结合传统的应力失效判据和断裂力学中的应变能释放率准则判断分层的起始和扩展规律。通过对碳800环氧树脂复合材料（T800/5228）层板的数值仿真结果和试验结果相比较,验证了模型的正确性,同时讨论了不同冲击能量下缝合层板的损伤规律。研究结果表明：缝线能够有效地抑制层板的分层损伤扩展;相同冲击能量下缝合与未缝合层板的基体损伤和纤维损伤在厚度分布上相似,缝合层板的损伤都要小于未缝合层板。     

Compression fatigue behaviour of notched composite laminates

The influence of compression fatigue on graphite/epoxy laminates containing circular holes of 0.635 cm diameter was investigated. The laminate stacking sequences were . Specifically this study examined the nature and extent of induced compression fatigue damage and determined the effects of this damage on the laminate residual failure mechanisms. Two modes of compression failure were found to occur: diagonal shear and net compression. Both failure modes were characterized by local instability of individual lamina or small lamina subgroupings, with diagonal shear predominant in the fibre-dominated laminates and net compression predominant in the quasi-isotropic laminates. The mode and direction of failure were dependent upon the nature of the specimen delamination. It was also found that the laminate stacking sequence influenced the intraply crack development in the laminates as well as the failure mode. The failure mechanisms were essentially the same for the two different material systems which were studied (Narmco 5208 and 5209).     

Static behavior of CFRPs at low temperatures

This paper summarizes the results of the tests to determine the effect of the low temperature on the mechanical behavior of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminates. Tensile and bending static tests were carried out on two laminate lay-ups (quasi-isotropic and cross-ply laminates), determining properties such as the mechanical strength, stiffness and strain to failure. The results show the changes in the mechanical behavior of this material at different test temperatures (20, −60 and −150 °C).     

玻璃纤维-不锈钢网混杂增强环氧树脂层合板对球形弹斜冲击响应特性实验研究

为了研究玻璃纤维-不锈钢网混杂增强环氧树脂层合板在球形弹高速斜冲击下的损伤特性,利用一级气炮对2 mm厚度的玻璃纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料层合板和含一层、三层304不锈钢网的玻璃纤维-不锈钢网混杂增强环氧树脂层合板进行倾角为30°的冲击实验,以揭示304不锈钢网对层合板弹道极限和能量吸收的影响规律,并分析层合板损伤特征及其机理。通过实验发现,含有三层不锈钢网层合板的弹道极限最高,而不含不锈钢网层合板和含一层不锈钢网层合板的弹道极限速度接近。层合板吸收的能量随着弹体速度增加呈现出先增加后趋于平稳,然后急剧上升的趋势。层合板损伤模式为基体开裂和破碎、分层、不锈钢丝拉伸断裂、纤维拉伸断裂和剪切断裂。层合板分层损伤面积随弹体速度增大先增大后减小,最后趋于稳定。当弹体速度较低时,层合板主要发生纤维拉伸断裂、基体开裂、层间有分层损伤产生。随着弹体速度的增大,层合板正面纤维逐渐发生压剪断裂、基体破碎,背面纤维发生严重的拉伸撕裂。      

Towards a Predictive Design Methodology Based on the Physical Modelling of the Fracture of Fiber Composites

A predictive design methodology based on modelling the fracture stress (notched tensile strength) and post-fatigue residual strength of laminated fiber composites is presented. The approach is based explicitly on the development of models of the physical processes by which damage accumulates at a notch-tip and the application of these models to cross-ply laminates for a variety of material systems, including thermosetting and thermoplastic matrices containing carbon, glass and Kevlar fiber reinforcements. The effects of temperature and humidity on composite fracture can also be examined in the context of this modelling strategy.A pre-requisite of the model is that it has to be calibrated for each material system by performing tensile tests on notched and unnotched cross-ply laminate. From this initial calibration, which takes relatively little time, it is possible to apply the model to a prediction of the dependence of fracture stress on notch size; to an understanding of the effects of laminate stacking sequence (within the same cross-ply family) on fracture stress; and to provide insight into the effects of thermal or load cycling history on fatigue damage-growth and residual or fatigue strength.The advantages and deficiencies of this modelling strategy are assessed, as well as the applicability of such a physical modelling approach to the predictive design and failure of composite materials in general.     

Effect of micro-randomness on macroscopic properties and fracture of laminates

Composite materials demonstrate a considerable extent of heterogeneity. A non-uniform spatial distribution of reinforcement results in variations of local properties of fibrous laminates. This non-uniformity not only affects effective properties of composite materials but is also a crucial factor in initiation and development of damage and fracture processes that are also spatially non-uniform. Such randomness in microstructure and in failure evolution is responsible for non-uniform distributions of stresses in composite specimens even under externally uniform loading, resulting, for instance, in a random distribution of matrix cracks in cross-ply laminates. The paper deals with statistical features of a distribution of carbon fibres in a transversal cross-sectional area in a unidirectional composite with epoxy matrix, based on various approaches used to quantify its microscopic randomness. A random character of the fibres’ distribution results in fluctuations of local elastic moduli in composites, the bounds of which depend on the characteristic length scale. A lattice model to study damage and fracture evolution in laminates, linking randomness of microstructure with macroscopic properties, is discussed. An example of simulations of matrix cracking in a carbon fibre/epoxy cross-ply laminate is given.     

An experimental investigation on the bearing failure load of glass fibre/epoxy laminates

This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the bearing failure load of glass fibre/epoxy (GFRP) laminates. The effects of fibre-to-load inclination angle and laminate stacking sequence on the bearing load capacity have been determined experimentally on two different type of laminates: unidirectional and bi-directional (cross-ply). Significant reductions in bearing failure load when fibre inclination angle increases are highlighted. Bearing design formulas are also proposed based on the results of the experiments.     

复合材料层合板缺口强度的CDM三维数值模型

针对复合材料层合结构缺口强度问题,基于连续损伤力学（CDM）提出了一种三维损伤数值模型。模型区分了层内损伤（纤维失效、纤维间失效）和层间分层损伤的不同失效模式。采用三维Puck准则与Aymerich准则对上述2类损伤进行判定,材料失效后基于CDM中线性软化模型对材料损伤进行演化。模型考虑了复合材料层合板子层的就位效应和剪切非线性行为。对Carlsson的AS4/3501-6缺口拉伸强度试验进行数值模拟。结果表明:分析结果与试验结果吻合良好,证明了该模型能够准确地预测含缺口复合材料层合板面内拉伸强度。      

Effect of fiber,matrix and interface properties on the in-plane shear deformation of carbon-fiber reinforced composites

The effect of fiber, matrix and interface properties on the in-plane shear response of carbon-fiber reinforced epoxy laminates was studied by means of a combination of experiments and numerical simulations. Two cross-ply laminates with the same epoxy matrix and different carbon fibers (high-strength and high-modulus) were tested in shear until failure according to ASTM standard D7078, and the progressive development of damage was assessed by optical microscopy in samples tested up to different strains. The composite behavior was also simulated through computational micromechanics, which was able to account for the effect of the constituent properties (fiber, matrix and interface) on the macroscopic shear response. The influence of matrix, fiber and interface properties on each region and on the overall composite behavior was assessed from the experimental results and the numerical simulations. After the initial elastic region, the shear behavior presented two different regions, the first one controlled by matrix yielding and the second one by the elastic deformation of the fibers. It was found that in-plane shear behavior of cross-ply laminates was controlled by the matrix yield strength and the interface strength and was independent of the fiber properties.     

Flexural properties of z-pinned laminates

This paper examines the effect of pinning on the flexural properties, fatigue life and failure mechanisms of carbon/epoxy laminates. Five-harness satin weave carbon/epoxy laminates were reinforced in the through-thickness direction with different volume fractions and sizes of fibrous composite pins. Microscopic examination of the laminates before flexural testing revealed that the pins caused considerable damage to the microstructure, including out-of-plane crimping, in-plane distortion and breakage of the fibres and the formation of resin-rich zones around each pin. The pins also caused swelling of the laminate that reduced the fibre volume content. Despite the damage, the pins did not affect the flexural modulus of the laminate. However, increasing the volume content or diameter of the pins caused a steady decline in the flexural strength and fatigue life, which appear to be governed by fiber rupture on the tensile side of the laminate. Property changes are discussed in terms of transitions in the dominant failure mechanisms due to the presence of pins.     

2-D biaxial testing and failure predictions of IM7/977-2 carbon/epoxy quasi-isotropic laminates

In previous research, a series of a thickness-tapered cruciform specimen configurations have been used to determine the biaxial (two-dimensional, in-plane) and triaxial (three-dimensional) strength of several carbon/epoxy and glass/vinyl-ester laminate configurations. Refinements to the cruciform geometry have been shown capable of producing acceptable results for cross-ply laminate configurations. However, the presence of a biaxial strengthening effect in quasi-isotropic, [(0_N/90_N/ ± 45_N)_M]_S, laminates have brought into question whether the cruciform geometry could be used to successfully generate two-dimensional strength envelopes. In the present study, a two-dimensional failure envelope for a IM7/977-2 carbon/epoxy laminate was developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, using a triaxial test facility. The electromechanical test frame is capable of generating any combination of tensile or compressive stresses in σ₁:σ₂:σ₃ stress space and can evaluate the uniaxial (one-dimensional, in-plane), biaxial or triaxial response of composite materials. Results are promising as they indicated that failure in the majority of the IM7/977-2 specimens occurred in the gage section. This leads the authors to believe that maximum biaxial stress states were correctly generated within the test specimen. In addition to the experimental data presented, multi-continuum theory (MCT) was used to predict and analyze the onset of damage and ultimate failure of a biaxially loaded IM7/977-2 laminate. Multi-continuum theory is a micromechanics based theory and associated numerical algorithm for extracting, virtually without a time penalty, the stress and strain fields for a composites’ constituents during a routine structural finite element analysis. Damage in a composite material typically begins at the constituent level and may, in fact, be limited to only one constituent in some situations. An accurate prediction of constituent failure at sampling points throughout the laminate provides a genesis for progressively analyzing damage propagation in a composite specimen allowing identification of intermediate damage modes. A constituent-based, quadratic, stress-interactive, failure criterion was used to take advantage of the micro-scale information provided by MCT. There was reasonable correlation between analytically and experimentally developed IM7/977-2 2D failure envelope which leads us to believe that the thickness-tapered cruciform specimen can be used to determine the biaxial strength of quasi-isotropic laminates.     

Modeling damage and load redistribution in composites under tension–tension fatigue loading

A fatigue model developed for composite laminates and based on the cycle-by-cycle probability of failure has been modified to account for damage creation and evolution and its effect on cycles to failure. The residual strength of different parts of the laminate is determined during cyclic loading and damage such as matrix cracking is quantified along with its effect on load redistribution and cycles to failure of different parts of the laminate. The model does not require any curve fitting or experimentally measured data other than basic material static strength values and their associated experimental scatter. The model is applied to uni-directional and cross-ply laminates. A stress-based approach using energy minimization and calculus of variations is used. The model predictions range from fair to excellent.     

An experimental investigation of the sequence effect in block amplitude loading of cross-ply composite laminates

The Palmgren–Miner rule has been shown to be inexact in many cases for various composite materials. Several empirical models have been conceived to account for this discrepancy, as well as the effect of block sequence. The approach taken here is based on the underlying mechanisms. A cross-ply laminate was used as a model material. In general, composites show both initiatory and progressive mechanisms under fatigue loading. The former is active at high static stresses, whereas the latter predominates at lower stress amplitudes where they are given sufficient time to propagate. Initiatory mechanisms give rise to damage from which the progressive mechanisms can start, and conversely the progressive mechanisms continually alter the local stress state which results in further damage accumulation caused by the initiation controlled mechanisms. In a cross-ply laminate, the initiatory mechanism is the formation of transverse cracks, and the progressive mechanism is mainly delamination growth initiated from the transverse cracks. In an experimental investigation of carbon fiber/epoxy cross-ply laminates, the interaction of these mechanisms has shown why a sequence of high–low amplitude levels results in shorter lifetimes than a low–high order. Such a sequence effect seems to be a common behavior for many other composite materials, and can be mechanistically explained by a similar kind of interaction. Advantages and drawbacks of the mechanistic approach compared with empirical rules are also discussed.     

Interaction of Matrix Cracking and Delamination in Cross-ply Laminates: Simulations with Stochastic Cohesive Zone Elements

Two main damage mechanisms of laminates—matrix cracking and inter-ply delaminationare closely linked together (Joshi and Sun 1). This paper is focussed on interaction between matrix cracking and delamination failure mechanisms in CFRP cross-ply laminates under quasi-static tensile loading. In the first part of the work, a transverse crack is introduced in 90o layers of the cross-ply laminate [01/904/01], and the stresses and strains that arise due to tensile loading are analyzed. In the second part, the cohesive zone modelling approach where the constitutive behaviour of the cohesive elements is governed by traction-displacement relationship is employed to deal with the problem of delamination initiation from the matrix crack introduced in the 90o layers of the laminate specimen. Additionally, the effect of microstructural randomness, exhibited by CFRP laminates on the damage behaviour of these laminates is also accounted for in simulations. This effect is studied in numerical finite-element simulations by introducing stochastic cohesive zone elements. The proposed damage modelling effectively simulated the interaction between the matrix crack and delamination and the variations in the stresses, damage and crack lengths of the laminate specimen due to the microstructural randomness.