Axial compressive strength of carbon fiber with tensile strength distribution

Abstract

AbstractMeasuring the fiber lengths of the broken pieces and estimating the mean tensile strength from the length just before the final fragment length in tension, efforts were made to estimate the axial compressive strengths of carbon fibers when the tensile strength varies with the length. The estimated compressive strength of carbon fibers decreases with increasing temperature. This decrease in compressive strength may be accounted for by a decrease in the radial compressive force owing to a decrease in the residual thermal stress and a decrease in Young's modulus of the resin matrix. There is a linear relationship between the estimated compressive strength and radial compressing force in the temperature range from room temperature to 80°C. The real compressive strength of the fibers, determined by extrapolating this straight line until the radial compressing force is zero, is about 20% higher than the compressive strength estimated by assuming that the tensile strength is uniform. It is approximately 10–50% of tensile strength. A linear relationship between the fiber axial compressive strength and compressive strength of the unidirectional composites is found. The experimental values agree with the values calculated by the rule of mixtures.