Research on the Z-Direction Compression Failure Mode of 3D Woven Composites

Abstract

In this paper, the 3D woven composite materials with guide sleeves were made by a novel 3D composite woven process. The compression test and SEM were used to investigate z- direction compression failure mode of the 3D woven composites with guide sleeves. The results show the guide sleeves were the main bearing structures while the load direction was along the thickness direction of those composites with guide sleeves. That is the rigid guide sleeves could improve the z-direction compressive property. The z-direction compression failure modes of the 3D woven composites with guide sleeves mainly include matrix cracking, guide sleeve/matrix debonding, axial cracking of guide sleeve, fibre fracture and shear fracture of guide sleeve. Furthermore, the deformational behaviour of guide sleeves played a key role in the z-direction compression failure mode of 3D woven composites with guide sleeves.