Evaluation of Cutting Process on the Tensile and Fatigue Strength of CFRP Composites

Abstract:

Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) composite is most attractive materials to reduce the weight of transportations. To increase the production volume and the efficiency in the field of CFRP component, fast, highly precise and cost-efficient technologies are required. Although laser cutting meets these requirements, it is not used because of insufficient knowledge about the effect of thermal damage on the material behavior. In this study, the effect of several cutting processes on the static tensile strength and the fatigue strength was evaluated for CFRP consisting of thermoset resin matrix and carbon fibers. The CFRP was cut using two different-type of lasers; a CO₂ gas laser and a single-mode fiber laser, an abrasive water-jet and a conventional mechanical tool. The mechanical cutting specimen produced a cut of high quality. The water-jet cutting specimen showed a moderate quality though was seen a trace of abrasive grain. While, the laser cutting specimens clearly showed a heat-affected zone (HAZ). The static tensile strength and the fatigue strength by laser cutting specimens clearly decreased in comparison with mechanical or water-jet cutting specimen. The laser cutting specimen exhibited a linear dependency of the tensile strength on the HAZ, indicating that the main effect resulted from thermal destruction of CFRP within the HAZ.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 706-709)
• Pages: 649-654
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.706-709.649
• Online since: January 2012
• Authors: Yoshihisa Harada, Kyohei Kawai, Takayuki Suzuki, Tokuo Teramoto
• Keywords: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer/Plastic (CFRP), CO₂ Gas Laser, Fatigue, Fiber Laser, Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), Laser Process, Tensile, Water-Jet

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