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The compression strength of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced plastic

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Abstract

A simple compression test, suitable for quality control measurements on unidirectional carbon fibre composite, is described. The specimen, a plane bar, with aluminium end tabs attached, is compressed by applying shear forces over the ends. With either type 1 or type 2 treated fibre the failure mode is one of shear over a plane at approximately 45° to the fibre axis. With untreated type 1 material failure is due to delamination. The variation of the compression strength of treated material with fibre volume loading is linear, the values being considerably below those predicted by buckling theory. Increasing void content causes a steady decrease in compression strength, and off-axis strength values are above those given by the maximum work criterion. The present work supports the recently proposed view that the compression strength of unidirectional carbon fibre composites at room temperature is not governed by fibre buckling but is related to the ultimate strength of the fibre.

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Hancox, N.L. The compression strength of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced plastic. J Mater Sci 10, 234–242 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540347

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540347

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