Mixed Mode‐I/II interlaminar fracture toughness Characterization of woven Carbon–Kevlar interyarn hybrid textile composites

Abstract

In actual service conditions, the composite structures are subjected to the combined effect of Mode‐I and Mode‐II loadings. It has great significance in the aerospace, defense, military, automobile, and marine sectors. This study aims to determine the Mixed Mode‐I/II interlaminar fracture toughness (ILFT) of plain and twill woven carbon, Kevlar monolithic, and interyarn hybrid textile composites under several hybridization schemes. The tailored properties are obtained using the interyarn hybridization of high stiff carbon yarn and high tough Kevlar yarn. The effect of individual yarn in the length direction in different hybrid composite laminates is carefully investigated. The Mixed Mode‐I/II ILFT characterization is experimentally performed using a mixed mode bending (MMB) test specimen on the Instron 8862 system under 45%, 55%, and 65% Mixed Mode ratios (MMRs). The increase in mode mixture percentage decreases the lever length, increases the load‐bearing capacity, and increases the Mixed Mode‐I/II ILFT of the MMB test specimen. Plain woven composites exhibited a higher ILFT than twill woven textile composites. The plain woven carbon–Kevlar hybrid composite laminate with carbon yarn‐in‐length direction shows the highest Mixed Mode‐I/II ILFT after CP laminates. Hybridization significantly increases the Mixed Mode‐I/II ILFT compared to monolithic Kevlar fabric‐reinforced composites. Moreover, the failure mechanisms are investigated using scanning electron microscopy.Highlights Mixed Mode‐I/II ILFT of carbon–Kevlar interyarn hybrid textile composites. ILFT at nonlinearity (NL), VIS, and 5%/Max load points for 45%, 55%, and 65% MMR. Advantage of placing carbon yarn‐in‐length direction in hybrid configurations. Effect of carbon–Kevlar interyarn hybridization on Mixed Mode‐I/II ILFT. Fractography of tested specimens to investigate several failure mechanisms.