ISSN: 0884-6804
CODEN: JCTRER
Page Count: 9

Compressive Failure of Laminated and Woven Composites
Fleck, NA
University reader and research associate, Cambridge University Engineering Department,

Jelf, PM
University reader and research associate, Cambridge University Engineering Department,

Curtis, PT
Chief, Structural Materials Center, Defense Research Agency,

Abstract

The effect of fiber architecture upon the compressive failure mechanisms is investigated for a wide range of fiber composites. Compressive tests are performed on both notched and unnotched specimens made from T800 carbon fiber-924C epoxy laminates, AS4 carbon fiber-PEEK laminates, 2D woven T800 carbon fiber-924 epoxy, and 3D woven AS4 carbon fiber-LY564 epoxy. Additionally, unnotched and notched compressive tests are performed on beechwood and birch plywood. In all cases, the dominant failure mechanism is by fiber microbuckling. An infinite band kinking model is used to estimate the unnotched strength and a large-scale crack bridging analysis is used to predict the notched strength.

Keywords:
compressive failure, composites, fracture mechanics, cohesive zone model, microbuckling

Paper ID: CTR10485J
DOI: 10.1520/CTR10485J
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