Effects of an enhanced fibre–matrix adhesion on the fatigue behaviour of composite materials under very high cycle fatigue

Abstract

The fatigue behaviour of two glass fibre-reinforced epoxy composite materials with a cross-ply layup is investigated in the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime with up to 10^8 load cycles. In addition to the influence on the fatigue lifetime, different materials can also cause a different damage phenomenology. One reference fibre (OC111A) and one fibre with increased fibre–matrix adhesion (SE2020) are tested. The experimental and numerical investigations show that the damage threshold is shifted to higher loads with increased fibre–matrix adhesion, but the damage mode of delaminations becomes more important.