Damage Behavior and Life Prediction in CFRP Cross-Ply Laminates under Fatigue Loading

Abstract

This paper deals with fatigue damage and life prediction of CFRP cross-ply laminates. Fatigue tests are carried out on CFRP unidirectional and cross-ply laminates under the on-axis and off-axis directions. On the unidirectional laminate, fiber breakage and fiber-peeling develop before the final fracture under on-axis fatigue, while the final fracture suddenly occurs by cracking along the fiber direction under off-axis fatigue. On the cross-ply laminates, ply-cracking in 90° plies and fiber-peeling in 0° plies develop under on-axis fatigue, while ply-cracking and delamination lead to the final fracture under off-axis fatigue. Based on the comparison of damage behavior and S-N curves between unidirectional and cross-ply laminates, possibility of fatigue life prediction of CFRP cross-ply laminates is discussed.