Effects of Thickness on Fracture Toughness of Carbon/Polyester Composite

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to evaluate interlaminar fracture toughness and non dimensional stress intensity factors of woven Carbon-Polyester composite based on numerical and experimental methods. A modified version of Arcan specimen was employed to conduct a mixed-mode fracture test using a special loading device. By changing the loading angle, α, from 0° to 90°, mode-I, mode-II and all mixed-mode data were created. The finite element analysis was performed with Abaqus software. The interaction j-integral was used to separate the mixed mode stress intensity factors and energy release rate at the crack tip under different loading conditions and different thickness of specimens. The results of fracture toughness tests revealed that the interlaminar fracture of composite is strong under the shearing-mode loading but weaker to the opening- mode loading. It can be seen that by increasing the thickness of the composite specimen, non dimensional stress intensity factors for pure mode I (α=0°) and pure mode II (α=90° ) loading conditions were decreased.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 471-472)
• Pages: 886-891
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.471-472.886
• Online since: February 2011
• Authors: Mohammad Hossein Heydari, Naghdali Choupani
• Keywords: Arcan, Composite, Delamination, Fracture Toughness

References

[1] Valery V. Vasiliev, Evgeny V. Morozov: Mechanics and Analysis of Composite Materials, Elsevier (2001).

[2] M. Nikbakht, N. Choupani, Int. J of Mech, Indu and Aerospace Eng 2: 4 (2008).

[3] Robert M. Jones: Mechanics of Composite Materials, Second edition, published by Taylor and Francis (1999).

[4] Mechanical testing of advanced fibre composites, Edited by J M Hodgkinson, CRC Press, Cambridge England.

[5] Rohola Hasanpour, Naghdali Choupani, Int. J of Rock Mech & Mining Sci, PP: 346–354, (2009).

[6] J.W. Gillespie, L.A. Carlsson, Delaware Composites Design Encyclopedia, vol. 6, Technomic Publishing Co. Inc., PP: 113–119 (1990).

[7] G.C. Sih, E.P. Chen, Cracks in Composite Materials: A Compilation of Stress Solutions for Composite Systems with Cracks, The Hague, M. Nijhoff: Distributors for the U.S. and Canada/Kluwer Boston, Boston/Hingham, MA, USA, ISBN 9024725593 (1981).

[8] S.H. Ju, R.E. Rowlands, Int. J. Fract. 120. PP: 601–621 (2003).

[9] Y.A. Dzenis, Durability and Intelligent Nondestructive Evaluation of Adhesive Composite Joints, University of Nerbraska-Lincoln, Arlington, Report No, F49620-96-1-0458 (1996).

[10] G.C. Sih, in: G.C. Sih (Ed. ), Engineering Application of Fracture Mechanics, Kluwer Academic Publishers, London, PP: 279–305, (1981).

[11] R.F. Gibson, Principles of Composite Material Mechanics, McGraw-Hill, New York (1994).

[12] ASTM E399, Standard Test Method for Plane Strain Fracture Toughness and Strain Energy Release Rate of Metallic Materials, Annual Book of ASTM Standards (1983).

DOI: 10.1520/stp33670s

[13] ASTM D5045, Standard Test Method for Plane Strain Fracture Toughness and Strain Energy Release Rate of Plastic Materials: Annual Book of ASTM Standards (1995).

DOI: 10.1520/d5045-14r22

[14] R.A. Jurf, R.B. Pipes, J. Compos. Mater. 16, PP: 386–394 (1982).

[15] M. Arcan, Z. Hashin, A. Voloshin, Exp. Mech. 18. PP: 141–146 (1978).