Mechanical properties, microscopy, and failure mechanisms of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminated composites

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:205115

Thissell, W R; Zurek, A K; Addessio, F

The mechanical behavior of quasi-isotropic and unidirectional epoxy- matrix carbon-fiber laminated composites subjected to compressive loading at strain rates of 10{sup {minus}3} and 2000 s{sup {minus}1} are described. Failure in the studied composites was dominated by delamination which proceeded by brittle fracture of the epoxy matrix. The matrix-fiber bonding in these composites is very strong and prevented the occurrence of significant fiber-pullout. The mode I delamination strain energy release rate of the unidirectional composites was determined using the double cantilever beam and hole in plate compression methods. The DCB method indicated a significant R curve effect attributed to fiber bridging while the presently available hole in plate analytical methods show questionable validity for highly anisotropic materials.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 205115
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--95-4217; CONF-951026--9; ON: DE96005609
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON
COATINGS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
EPOXIDES
FIBERS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSCOPY
REINFORCED MATERIALS