Abstract
The longitudinal compressive failure of a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) was studied using multiple-fiber model composites. Aligned carbon fibers were embedded in an epoxy matrix and put on a rectangular beam. A compression test of the model composite was performed by means of a four point bending test of the rectangular beam. The number of carbon fibers was changed from one to several thousands, by which the effect on compressive failure modes was investigated. A compressive failure of a single-fiber model composite was fiber crush. The fiber crush strain was much higher than the compressive failure strain of the unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic. By contrast, a compressive failure of a multiple-fiber model composite was kink-band. The longitudinal compressive failure mechanism shifted from fiber crush to kink-band due to an increasing number of fibers. Kink-band parameters i.e. kink-band angle and kink-band width were dependent on the number of closely-aligned carbon fibers.
Highlights
Unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used as a structural material for aircraft because of its superior specific stiffness, strength and fatigue resistance as compared to other metallic materials typically used in aircraft fabrication
Kink-band failure is a typical mode of longitudinal compressive failure for a unidirectional CFRP
This strain value was much higher than that of the unidirectional CFRP fabricated using a unidirectional prepreg tape. This indicates that the compressive failure mechanism of a unidirectional CFRP is different from that of a single-fiber model composite
Summary
Unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used as a structural material for aircraft because of its superior specific stiffness, strength and fatigue resistance as compared to other metallic materials typically used in aircraft fabrication. (2016) Longitudinal Compressive Failure of Multiple-Fiber Model Composites for a Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic. Kink-band failure is a typical mode of longitudinal compressive failure for a unidirectional CFRP It results from an in-phase, micro-buckling of the fibers within the polymer matrix. The kink-band parameters are dependent on the material system and fiber volume fraction, which can affect resultant compressive strength. The different fracture modes between a single-fiber model composite and a unidirectional CFRP indicate that the number of carbon fibers affects the fracture modes and resultant compressive strength. Compression tests of multiple-fiber model composites were performed to study kink-band failure mechanisms. The number of carbon fibers in the multiple-fiber model composites was increased which resulted in the compressive failure mode shifting from fiber crush failure to kink-band failure. The kink-band failure parameters were dependent on the number of closely aligned carbon fibers
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