Fractographic Observation of Various Loading Modes of Fibre Reinforced Laminates

Abstract

One of the major disadvantages of laminated composites is their tendency to delaminate. Unidirectional glass/epoxy laminates have been tested under static conditions by the use of fracture mechanics. Mode I, mode II, mixed mode I-II, mode III and mixed mode II-III tests were performed. Double cantilever beam (DCB), end-notched flexure (ENF), mixed-mode bending (MMB) and edge crack torsion (ECT) specimens were used. Scanning electron microscopy technique was used to identify distinguishing fractographic features and to establish the differences between the various modes of fracture after specimens testing. The propagated orientation of the delamination could be specified from the patterns of fracture surface. Scanning electron micrographs of fractured surfaces showed that the most predominant fractographic features in mode I and mode II are the large amount of fibre pull-out and the cusps markings respectively. In the MMB specimen the fracture surfaces are characterized by fibre breakage under shearing with fractures localized in the resin with cusps having an orientation of 90º (mode II) and also fractures localized in the resin and along the resin/fibre interface (mode I). Mode III characterization concluded that some limited mixed mode II-III seems to be present for ECT specimen on delamination initiation and growth, but a large majority of mode III delamination is present.