Prediction of tensile strength of unidirectional carbon fiber/epoxy composites using the fragmentation test

J. Watanabe, F. Tanaka, R. Higuchi, H. Matsutani, H. Okuda, T. Okabe

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The fiber breakage behavior of unidirectional polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber/epoxy composite material was estimated, taking into account stress concentration in the adjacent fibers resulting from matrix cracking around fiber breakages. Analysis of the breakage behavior of adjacent fibers in double-fiber fragmentation tests showed that the results of simulation conducted using a spring element model and taking into account the stress concentration on the fiber surface corresponded well with experimental results. In addition to considering the stress concentration, it is essential to employ a bimodal Weibull distribution, which is a narrow strength distribution in the high strength-region, to explain the behavior observed in double-fiber fragmentation tests. When carbon fiber with no treatment and no sizing agent was used, matrix cracking around fiber breakages did not occur, and the tensile strength of unidirectional carbon fiber/epoxy composites was improved. These findings suggest that there is considerable potential for improving the tensile strength of composites by suppressing stress concentration on the fiber surface.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationECCM 2016 - Proceeding of the 17th European Conference on Composite Materials
PublisherEuropean Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM
ISBN (Electronic)9783000533877
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Event17th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM 2016 - Munich, Germany
Duration: 2016 Jun 262016 Jun 30

Publication series

NameECCM 2016 - Proceeding of the 17th European Conference on Composite Materials

Other

Other17th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM 2016
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityMunich
Period16/6/2616/6/30

Keywords

  • Bimodal Weibull distribution
  • Double-fiber fragmentation test
  • Polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ceramics and Composites

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