Damage modeling of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer at extreme temperatures

Abstract

"A finite element model was generated to study how thermal stress influences damage progression in carbon-fiber reinforced composite laminates using a double shear bearing joint model. Quasi-static damage was observed using a progressive damage method that incorporated Hashin type damage criteria. Material properties for FiberCote T700/E765 24K unidirectional carbon fiber were used to create three material models with properties corresponding to the ambient temperatures -55, 20 and 82 °C. The joint strength was predicted using a 2% bearing strain offset method. At -55 °C ambient temperature, joint strength was reduced 8.6% as the relaxation (stress-free) temperature was varied from 20 to 100 °C. At 82 °C ambient temperature, joint strength was reduced 3.6% as the relaxation temperature was varied from 20 to 100 °C. Increasing the relaxation temperature decreased the joint strength and increased the matrix tensile damage rate but did not greatly affect other failure modes"--Leaf iii