Interlaminar and Intralaminar Fracture Behavior of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract

Interlaminar and intralaminar fracture behavior of carbon fiber reinforced composites have been experimentally studied. Unidirectional, woven reinforcement and thermoplastic and thermoset polymer matrix laminates have been characterized using double cantilever beam (DCB) and end notch flexure (ENF) specimens for Mode-I and Mode-II fracture toughness, respectively and compact tension (CT) specimens for intralaminar fracture. AS4/PEEK, AS4/8552 and AGP193PW/8552 laminates have been characterized in this study. The fracture toughness determined from the experimental data could be related to the constituents and reinforcements. It has been observed between the two UD laminates, AS4/PEEK exhibit higher fracture resistance under both interlaminar and intralaminar fracture. Woven reinforcement is found to show higher mode-II interlaminar fracture toughness.