Mode-II interlaminar fracture investigation of novel shaped glass fibre composites

Alessandro Cannas, Ian Bond, Amir Rezai, Matteo Lusi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A study has been conducted to evaluate the benefits of using novel shaped fibre reinforcement to improve mode-II strain energy release rate of fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRP). Unidirectional and cross-ply laminates were manufactured using shaped and circular glass fibre reinforcement and tested using the end notched flexure (ENF) and end loaded split (ELS) geometries. Before testing, each specimen was pre-cracked using mode-I opening. The circular fibres were manufactured to have the same cross-sectional area as the shaped. The strain energy release rate for both crack initiation (G IICinitiation) and propagation (GIICpropagation) of all manufactured composites was calculated using Corrected Beam Theory (CBT) based on compliance calibration. Due to differences in resin and fibre volume fractions and fibre geometries, a correction factor was applied to the CBT expression to allow a fairer comparison. Results obtained have shown an increase of both GIICinitiation and GIICpropagation values for composites reinforced with shaped fibres.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 16th International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM-16 - "A Giant Step Towards Environmental Awareness
Subtitle of host publicationFrom Green Composites to Aerospace"
PublisherInternational Committee on Composite Materials
ISBN (Print)9784931136052
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameICCM International Conferences on Composite Materials

Keywords

  • Damage and fracture
  • Matrices and interfaces
  • Microstructure/properties
  • Shaped fibre
  • Strain energy release rate

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