Micro-Mechanical Investigation of Interfacial Debonding in Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Composites Using Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) Approach

Abstract

The interface debonding in carbon fiber-reinforced polymers is analyzed and evaluated using the extended finite element method (XFEM). In order to accurately evaluate the bonding properties between fibers and matrix, different tests were carried out, including the multiple tests for different orientations to study longitudinal, transversal, and shear properties of unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced composites. Extensive experimentation has been performed in all the different groups and categories with different dimensions and parameters in order to ascertain the values of strength and the prediction of the damage to the structure. The experimental and numerical comparison provided significant trends and data to evaluate the mechanical properties of the interface. The values of stiffness and strength are compared and validated. Development of Representative Volume Element (RVE) for progressive damage model to these damage phenomena has already been performed as a feasibility study for the model, though it is not included in this particular paper. The results of this research for all the experimental and numerical sets can serve as reliable data in the microsimulation of devices and sensitive parameters that include carbon fiber-reinforced light metal matrix composites and makes a better investigative model that contributes to various conditions. It further offers an investigation of the microscopic deformation mechanisms in the composites.

Keywords

• micro-crack model
• interfacial micro-debonding
• carbon fiber-reinforced composites
• extended finite element method (XFEM)