Experimental Investigations of 3D Woven Layer to-Layer Carbon/Epoxy Composites at Different Strain Rates

Abstract

This paper reports experimental investigations of 3D woven carbon/epoxy composites on quasi-static and dynamic tensile properties in the longitudinal (warp) and transverse (weft) directions. Firstly, quasi-static tests were conducted to determine a baseline tensile strength and to find out the adequate specimen geometry required for dynamic testing. Secondly, dynamic tensile properties at intermediate strain rates (nominal strain rates from 0.1 to 200 s-1) were investigated alongside the corresponding failure mechanisms. Detailed information on failure patterns is obtained with strain field measurements from Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and CT scans. The results show that 3D woven composites are strain rate insensitive and the crack initiation is located near weft yarns and binding interlacement points due to the presence of resin rich areas.