Tensile and flexural damage response of symmetric angle‐ply carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy laminates: Non‐linear response and effects of thickness and ply‐stacking sequence

Abstract

Advanced fiber reinforced composites have excellent specific strength and stiffness properties, but tend to be limited by linear elastic response and sudden, brittle failure. This lack of ductility greatly limits the structural efficiency of reinforced composite designs. Hence, achieving some non-linear behavior is desirable and it can help composite structures to maintain functionality even when they are overloaded to improve safety and reduce the applied safety factors. The aim of this study is to characterize and assess the effect of laminate thickness and the type of scaling technique on the damage response of symmetric angle-ply carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates subjected to tensile and flexural loading. This study considers the different behavior of the composite material under tension and compression in order to evaluate their influence on the failure modes. Tensile and three-point bending tests were carried out to determine the mechanical response in terms of strength and stiffness of the different CFRP laminates. Optical micrographs of failed samples were used to assess damage mechanisms of the different configurations. It was observed that non-linear behavior and high strains to failure could be achieved with angle-ply laminates. Furthermore, the maximum flexural strength increased and maximum flexural strain decreased as laminate thickness increased. Finally, the results obtained demonstrate that introducing ply clustering had a negative effect on the mechanical performance and pseudo-ductility exhibited by angle-ply laminates. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3678-3690, 2019. FIG. 8. Average flexural stress-strain curves of the angle-ply samples and cross-sectional micrographs of the failed regions. (a) Average flexural stress-strain curves for the sublaminate angle-ply samples as a function of the laminate thickness. (b) Average flexural stress-strain curves for the ply-level angle-ply samples as a function of the laminate thickness. (c) Comparative of average flexural stress-strain curves as a function of the type of scaling. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Creep analysis of E‐glass/vinyl‐ester laminated composites for underground vault structures

“…The time‐dependence behavior has been reported regardless of length of the spatial or temporal aspects of the composite. [ 14–25 ]…”

“…The time-dependence behavior has been reported regardless of length of the spatial or temporal aspects of the composite. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] While advanced composite structures have recently relied on carbon and graphite fibers to achieve extreme strength and stiffness at a lower weight penalty, glass fibers remain a reliable competitor despite being the oldest high-performance fiber since the 1930s. [26] For example, fiberglass-based composites are notorious in the marine industry, such as in the construction of yachts, as well as in the defense industry, having been used in certain parts of fourth-generation fighter jets.…”

Investigation of toughening effect of biomass‐derived SiCB on basalt fiber‐reinforced unsaturated polyester composites

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Design and optimization of tapered carbon‐fiber‐reinforced polymer rim for carbon/aluminum assembled wheel

“…CFRP structures are highly designable, and many lay‐up variables, such as lay‐up thickness, 14 lay‐up angle, 15 lay‐up sequence, 16 affect their performance. The lay‐up variables are discrete and should obey engineering manufacturing constraints.…”