Abstract
In recent years carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) have become some of the most important structural materials in the aerospace industry due to their excellent stiffness and strength to weight ratios. The real-life loading histories of aerospace composite components and structures involve the generation of transient loads that can propagate as cyclic impacts. This phenomenon is known as impact fatigue (IF). Such loads can cause various types of damage in composites, including fibre breakage, transverse matrix cracking, de-bonding between fibres and matrix and delamination, resulting in a reduction of residual stiffness and a loss of functionality.The effects of IF are of major importance due its detrimental effect on the performance and reliability of components and structures after relatively few impacts and low force levels compared to those in a standard fatigue regime. This study employs a unique testing system with the capability of subjecting specimens to fully instrumented repetitive impact loading. The main aim of this paper is to provide results elucidating the effect of IF on the damage behaviour of CFRP specimens. A detailed damage analysis is implemented utilising an X-ray micro computed tomography (CT) system.
Highlights
The use of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) in the aerospace and other high technology industries has increased enormously in the last few decades and looks set for significant further expansion
The main aim of this paper is to provide results elucidating the effect of impact fatigue (IF) on the damage behaviour of CFRP specimens
The findings illustrate the capabilities of the micro-computed tomography (CT) system and the evolution of the damage with IF cycles
Summary
The use of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) in the aerospace and other high technology industries has increased enormously in the last few decades and looks set for significant further expansion This has been largely because of the high specific stiffness and strength of these materials, other properties such as fatigue resistance, property tailoring and manufacturing flexibility may be of significance in certain applications. Real-life loading histories often involve vibrating loads that can propagate in structural elements as cyclic impacts. It has to be noted that a special specimen was made since as for accurate resolution of microcracks the width of the specimen should be limited to 5 mm width This specimen was notched at 1 mm while the length and thickness was kept the same as Group A Table 3. It has to be noted that after every group of impacts (250,400 and 600) the specimen was removed and examined in the X-ray microCT apparatus
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