Session: 01-06-01: Impact, Fatigue, Damage and Fracture of Composite Structures

Paper Number: 103213

103213 - Interface Characterization of Hybrid Composites Through Dcb and Enf Experiments and Numerical Predictions 

The technological advancement of carbon fiber reinforced composite materials (CFRP) has enabled innovative and complex use of the material in the aerospace industry. A large quantity of experiments is needed to accurately characterize composite materials. Due to the time and cost of performing physical experiments, finite element (FE) modeling tools for CFRP damage evolution and characterization are necessary. FE models that can accurately capture coupon level experiments can be used to predict the behavior of more complex structures. Interlaminar delamination is a structurally significant damage event in composites. In this study, DCB and ENF experiments are performed on hybrid M21 composite specimens (consisting of woven and unidirectional tape) to produce the necessary data to determine the fracture toughness of different interface combinations within the material. The results of this study are combined with previous works to define the interface properties of tape-tape interfaces, weave-weave interfaces, and hybrid interfaces with varying ply angle orientations. The experiments are recreated using cohesive contact within a finite element framework to identify the cohesive strengths that match the experimental results to numerically characterize the cohesive strength and fracture toughness for each interface combination of the composite. This study investigates the DCB and ENF experiments to characterize the fracture toughness of hybrid CFRPs containing both traditional and woven lamina. This information lays the groundwork for future numerical predictions of structural configurations manufactured using M21 hybrid composites.

Presenting Author: Andrew Seamone University of Michigan

Presenting Author Biography: Andrew is a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on impact, compression after impact, and material characterization experiments and simulation.

Authors:

Andrew Seamone University of Michigan
Shiyao Lin University of Michigan
Anthony Waas University of Michigan
Vipul Ranatunga AFRL