Fracture of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Composite for Light Weight Electric Vehicle under the Tensile Loading

Abstract

Damage behavior of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic composite (CFRP) under the tensile loading was investigated. Four lay-up sequences were considered: [0o]4, [90o]4, [0o/90o]2, and [0o/45o/90o/-45o]. Experimental results showed that the specimen [0o]4 showed highest stiffness and strength followed by [0o/90o]2 , [0o/45o/90o/-45o], and [90o]4. The behavior was analyzed by finite element method. Progressive damage model Hashin’s damage initiation criteria and energy based damage evolution law were applied. It was shown that FEA results quite well agree with experimental results. The fracture strength was strongly dependent on the failure of the 0o directional ply.