Abstract
The damage associated with the impact of quasi-isotropic epoxy-matrix carbon-fibre composites was studied by sectioning through the impact area and photographing the polished sections. Composites with a state-of-the-art low fracture-energy matrix resin (Hercules 3501-6) and a new high fracture-energy resin (Hercules X8551) were compared. Damage in the lowtoughness matrix laminate was characterized by a network of interlaminar and transverse cracking that extended some distance beyond the centre of impact. A similar network of transverse and interlaminar cracking developed in the impacted tough-matrix laminate but was largely confined to a region immediately below the impact centre. This difference in the volume of impact damage could be easily attributed to the high interlaminar fracture energy of the X8551 resin compared to the 3501-6 resin. The type and distribution of impact damage are discussed in terms of energy-dissipative mechanisms and the stress patterns that develop during impact due to mechanical deflection and stress-wave interaction. Also, the results of the sectioning study are compared with damage assessment by ultrasonic backscattering.
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Boll, D.J., Bascom, W.D., Weidner, J.C. et al. A microscopy study of impact damage of epoxy-matrix carbon-fibre composites. J Mater Sci 21, 2667–2677 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00551471
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00551471