Fatigue Crack Growth Rate in Mode I of a Carbon Fiber 5HS Weave Composite Laminate Processed via RTM

Abstract:

Delamination or crack propagation between plies is a critical issue for structural composites. In viewing this issue and the large application of woven fabrics in structural applications, especially the ones that requires high drapeability to be preformed in a RTM mold cavity such as the asymmetric ones, e.g HS series, this research aimed in dynamically testing the carbon fiber 5HS/RTM6 epoxy composites under opening mode using DCB set up in order to investigate the crack growth rate behavior in an irregular surface produced by the fabric waviness. The evaluation of the energy involved in each crack increment was based on the Irwin-Kies equation using compliance beam theory. The tests were conducted at constant stress ratio of R=0.1 with displacement control, frequency of 10 Hz, in accordance to ASTM E647-00 for measurement of crack growth rate. The results showed large scatter when compared to unidirectional carbon fiber composites due to damage accumulation at the fill tows.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 891-892)
• Pages: 172-177
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.891-892.172
• Online since: March 2014
• Authors: Marcos Yutaka Shiino*, Rene C. Alderliesten, Midori Yoshikawa Pitanga, Maria Odila Hilário Cioffi
• Keywords: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), Double Cantilever Beam (DCB), Fatigue, Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM)

References

[1] D. Sans, J. Renart, J. Costa, J.A. Gascons, J.A. Mayugo, Assessment of the influence of the crack monitoring method in interlaminar fatigue tests using fiber Bragg grating sensors, Comp. Sci. and Tec. 84 (2013) 44-50.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2013.04.022

[2] K. Shivakumar, H. Chen, F. Abali, D. Le, C. Davis, A total fatigue life model for mode I delaminated composite laminates, Int. J. of Fat. 28 (2006) 33-42.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2005.04.006

[3] A. Arguelles, J. Vina, A.F. Canteli, J. Bonhomme, Fatigue delamination, initiation, and growth, under mode I and II of fracture in a carbon-fiber epoxy composite, Pol. Comp. 31 (2010) 700-707.

DOI: 10.1002/pc.20855

[4] J. Andersons, M. Hojo, S. Ochiai, Empirical model for stress effect on fatigue delamination growth rate in composite laminates, Int. J. of Fat. 26 (2004) 597-604.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2003.10.016

[5] M. Hojo, S. Ochiai, C-G. Gustafson, K. Tanaka, Effect of matrix resin on delamination fatigue crack growth in CFRP laminates, Eng. Frac. Mech. 1 (1994) 35-47.

DOI: 10.1016/0013-7944(94)90109-0

[6] A.J. Russel, Micromechanisms of interlaminar fracture and fatigue, Pol. Comp. 8 (1987) 342-351.

[7] A.F. Gill, P. Robinson, S. Pinho, Effect of variation in fibre volume fraction on mode I II delamination behavior of 5HS woven composites manufactured by RTM, Comp. Sci. and Tec. 69 (2009) 2368-2375.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.02.008

[8] ASTM D 5528-01, Standard Test Method for Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites.

DOI: 10.1520/d5528-01r07e01

[9] R.A.M. Coenen, Design of a quality assurance system for structural laminates, PhD thesis, Delft University Press, The Netherlands (1998).

[10] C.D. Rans, R.C. Alderliesten, R. Benedictus, Misinterpreting the results: how similitude can improve our understanding of fatigue delamination growth, Comp. Sci. and Tec. 71 (2011) 230-238.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2010.11.010

[11] T. Lisle, C. Bouvet, M.L. Pastor, P. Margueres, R. Prieto Corral, Damage analysis and fracture toughness evaluation in a thin composite laminate under static tension using infrared thermography, Comp.: Part A 53 (2013) 75-87.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2013.06.004

[12] J.J. Ahn, S. Ochiai. Fatigue crack propagation behavior of thermally degraded SiCp/Al composites J. of Comp. Mat. 38 (2004) 81-90.

DOI: 10.1177/0021998304038175

[13] H.P. Rossmanth, Teaching and Education in Fracture and Fatigue, Chapman and Hall, Vienna, Austria, (1996).

[14] B. Harris, Fatigue in Composites, CRC Press, Cambridge, England, (2003).