Effect of crack propagation directions on the interlaminar fracture toughness of carbon/epoxy composite materials

Abstract

The interlaminar fracture toughness of carbon/epoxy composite materials has been studied under tensile and flexural loading using width-tapered double cantilever beam (WTDCB) and end-notched flexure (ENF) specimens. This study experimentally examines the effect of various interfacial ply orientations, alpha (0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees) and crack propagation directions, theta (0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees and 45 degrees) in terms of the critical strain energy release rate. Twelve differently layered laminates were investigated. The fracture energy is deduced from the data according to the compliance method and beam theory. Beam theory is used to analyze the effect of crack propagation direction. The geometry and lay-up sequence of specimens are designed to probe various conditions such as skewness parameter and beam volume. Results show that fiber bridging occurred due to non-midplane crack propagation; this causes the difference in fracture energy calculated by both methods. For the construction of safer and more reliable composite structures, we obtain the optimal stacking sequence from the initial fracture energy in each mode.