Micromechanical analyses of the crack in glass woven-epoxy composites subjected to in-plane compression load

Abstract

The subject of this paper is micromechanical analyses of the crack on glass wovenepoxy composites subjected to in-plane compression load. Identification and understanding of the first damages as micro-cracks and micro-mechanisms and their further spreading during compression loading of construction of composite material are of great importance for every special usage and life prediction. Five different structures of glass epoxy composites were tested with orientation of reinforcement 0º/90º and ±45º. The specific weights of reinforcement were 125, 170, 210, 550 and 880 g/m². The analysis of compression test results was performed on the basis of the structure. Micromechanical analyses of surface cracks of the samples was carried out by scanning electron microscopy, and the established models and mechanisms of initiation and propagation of cracks are very valuable in predicting the behavior of the real constructions subjected to compression load.

Keywords

• glass woven-epoxy composite
• compression test
• micromechanical analysis