The effect of fiber architecture on the mechanical properties of carbon/carbon fiber composites

Abstract

The mechanical performance of carbon-fiber matrix composites with different fiber architectures is investigated for various loading modes. All the composites were fabricated from nominally equal constituents and identical consolidation processes, leaving as the only variables, the variations caused by the different fiber weave structures. The fiber architecture drastically affects both composite strength and deformation characteristics. Some systems are almost linear up to a final brittle failure while others exhibit a pronounced non-linearity prior to failure. It is found that the composite tensile strength is dictated by both fiber volume fraction and weave architecture. The weaving can have a beneficial effect in spite of introducing new fiber flaws and stress concentrations, because it causes the composite to be less flaw sensitive. These features are addressed analytically by considering the statistical aspects of the fiber strength and the formation of critical defects.