Journal
MATERIALS & DESIGN
Volume 65, Issue -, Pages 139-146Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2014.08.072
Keywords
Composites; Fatigue; Delamination; Z-pins
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This paper compares improvements to the mode I and mode II delamination fatigue resistance of an aerospace composite material achieved by z-pin reinforcement. Mode I (cyclic crack opening) and mode II (cyclic crack sliding) interlaminar fatigue tests were performed on a carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composite reinforced in the through-thickness direction with different volume contents and diameters of z-pins. Paris curves obtained from displacement-controlled fatigue tests reveal that z-pins are more effective at resisting the initiation and growth of delamination cracks under mode I than mode II conditions. Both the mode I and II fatigue resistance increase with the z-pin content due to the formation of a large-scale extrinsic crack bridging toughening zone, although fatigue strengthening is greater for mode I. Improvements to the mode I and mode II delamination fatigue resistance are also dependent on the z-pin diameter. Similarities and differences in the mode I and mode II fatigue properties are related to the fatigue strengthening mechanisms induced by z-pins for the two load conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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