Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science, Composites, Engineering, Materials Science, Hybrid, Delamination, Fragmentation, Failure, FRACTURE PROCESS ZONE, POLYMER COMPOSITES, PSEUDO-DUCTILITY, BEHAVIOR, DESIGN, 0901 Aerospace Engineering, 0912 Materials Engineering, 0913 Mechanical Engineering, Materials, 4016 Materials engineering, 4017 Mechanical engineering

Abstract:

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Interlayer hybrid carbon fiber/self-reinforced polypropylene composites possess a rare combination of lightness, stiffness and ductility, but they do suffer from a catastrophic stress drop when the carbon fiber layer fractures. To promote a gradual failure of the hybrids, we introduced discontinuities in the carbon fiber layer by partially cutting it at multiple locations perpendicularly to the fiber direction. By altering characteristics of the discontinuities (their length and number over the specimen width), we were able to influence the failure mechanisms and tensile performance of these hybrid composites. When the cut length was increased to 15 mm, the carbon fiber layer fragmented and delaminated at the cut sites inducing a gradual failure development in the hybrid. The concept of fracture process zone was applied to explain the failure mechanisms in these hybrid composites.