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Development of a compressive failure model for carbon fiber composites and associated uncertainties.

Journal Article · · Composites Science and Technology

An approach to increase the value of carbon fiber for wind turbines blades, and other compressive strength driven designs, is to identify pathways to increase its cost-specific compressive strength. A finite element model has been developed to evaluate the predictiveness of current finite element methods and to lay groundwork for future studies that focus on improving the cost-specific compressive strength. Parametric studies are conducted to understand which uncertainties in the model inputs have the greatest impact on compressive strength predictions. Furthermore, a statistical approach is also presented that enables the micromechanical model, which is deterministic, to efficiently account for statistical variability in the fiber misalignment present in composite materials; especially if the results from the hexagonal and square pack models are averaged. The model was found to agree well with experimental results for a Zoltek PX-35 pultrusion. The sensitivity studies suggest that the fiber packing and the interface shear strength have the greatest impact on compressive strength prediction for the fiber reinforced polymer studied here. Based on the performance of the modeling approach presented in this work, it is deemed sufficient for future work which will seek to identify carbon fiber composites with improved cost-specific compressive strength.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Wind Energy Technologies Office; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1798152
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1815195
Report Number(s):
SAND--2021-7011J; 696899
Journal Information:
Composites Science and Technology, Journal Name: Composites Science and Technology Vol. 211; ISSN 0266-3538
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

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A review of computational modelling approaches to compressive failure in laminates journal September 2019
Interaction between kinking and splitting in the compressive failure of unidirectional fiber reinforced laminated composites journal April 2013
Experimental and computational analysis of failure mechanisms in unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates under longitudinal compression loading journal November 2018
Micromechanical modelling of the longitudinal compressive and tensile failure of unidirectional composites: The effect of fibre misalignment introduced via a stochastic process journal October 2020
Computational micromechanics model for the analysis of fiber kinking in unidirectional fiber-reinforced polymers journal March 2020
Micromechanics Prediction of the Shear Strength of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Matrix Composites: The Influence of the Matrix and Interface Strengths journal April 1992
On Micro-Buckling of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Composites by Means of Computational Micromechanics journal December 2016

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