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Experimental assessment of temperature effect on open-hole notch sensitivity in woven carbon fiber composites

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Abstract

Composite laminates often comprise notch-like features such as drilled assembly holes or geometric discontinuities resulting from damage. These features induce stress concentrations in their vicinities and can, through incompletely understood temperature-dependent damage mechanisms, reduce laminates’ load carrying capacity. Accordingly, this work investigates the effect of elevated temperatures on the notch sensitivity of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites and on the initiation and progression of notch-triggered damage mechanisms. This work employs an experimental approach in which tensile notched and un-notched specimens are loaded in controlled temperatures. Specimens are tested at multiple temperatures, and their nominal and local behavior in the vicinity of a circular notch are observed using digital image correlation. Results demonstrated a decreasing trend in the elastic moduli and ultimate tensile strength of notched specimens with increasing temperatures. However, the global response of notched samples at 50 \(^{\circ }\)C surprisingly deviated from the expected trend and exhibited 8% higher tensile strength than that observed at 25 \(^{\circ }\)C. Moreover, the notch sensitivity was found to decrease with increasing temperatures. Two main temperature-sensitive notch-triggered damage mechanisms were observed, namely transverse cracks and axial splitting. Transverse cracks were evident at all considered temperatures, while axial splitting was absent at room temperature.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for this work is provided by the American University of Sharjah under the Faculty Research Grant (FRG) awards: EFRG18-MSE-CEN-15 and FRG-16-R-15

Funding

Financial support for this work is provided by the American University of Sharjah under the Faculty Research Grant (FRG) awards: EFRG18-MSE-CEN-15 and FRG-16-R-15. The award EFRG18-MSE-CEN-15 was granted to the author Maen Alkhader, while the award FRG-16-R-15 was granted to the authors Maen Alkhader and Wael Abuzaid.

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  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE

    Mostafa Elyoussef, Wael Abuzaid & Maen Alkhader

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  1. Mostafa Elyoussef
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  2. Wael Abuzaid
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  3. Maen Alkhader
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All authors named in this work have made substantial contributions to this work either in the conception and design of the work; or in data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation; or in drafting the manuscript. All authors have approved the submitted version and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. This work originated from the thesis of the first author. Second and third authors advised the student (first author) during the different stages of this work.

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Correspondence to Maen Alkhader.

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Elyoussef, M., Abuzaid, W. & Alkhader, M. Experimental assessment of temperature effect on open-hole notch sensitivity in woven carbon fiber composites. Arch Appl Mech 91, 1273–1290 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00419-020-01822-z

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