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To investigate the reinforcement architectures effect on the electromagnetic wave properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, three-dimensional (3D) interlock woven fabric/epoxy composites, 3D interlock woven fabric with stuffer warp/epoxy composites, and 3D orthogonal woven fabric/epoxy composites were studied by the free-space measurement system. The results showed that the three types of 3D woven carbon fiber fabric/epoxy composites had a slight difference in electromagnetic wave properties and the absorption was their dominant radar absorption mechanism. The electromagnetic wave absorption properties of the three types of composites were more than 90% (below −10 dB) over the 11.2–18 GHz bandwidth, and more than 60% (below −4 dB) over the 8–12 GHz bandwidth. Compared with unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastics, the three kinds of 3D woven carbon fiber fabric/epoxy composites exhibited better electromagnetic wave absorption properties over a broadband frequency range of 8–18 GHz. Therefore, the three kinds of 3D woven composite are expected to be used as radar absorption structures due to their excellent mechanical properties and outstanding absorption capacity. The total electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of the three types of 3D carbon fiber woven composites are all larger than 46 dB over the 8–12 GHz bandwidth, which is evidence that the three types of 3D carbon fiber woven composites can be used as excellent shielding materials for electromagnetic interference.

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The effects of reinforcement structures and hybrid types on the inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) of carbon-glass hybrid fibers/bismaleimide composites under thermo-oxidative aging conditions were investigated. The process resulted in progressive deterioration of the matrix and fiber/matrix interfaces, in the form of chain scissions, weight loss, and fiber/matrix debonding, which significantly led to the decrease of the ILSS of composites. Moreover, the three-dimensional orthogonal woven hybrid composites (3D composites) showed higher ILSS retention rate than those of the laminated orthogonal hybrid composites (laminated composites). No delamination occurred in the aged 3D composites like in the aged laminated composites. This was because the Z-binder yarns in the 3D composites resisted the inter-laminar shear load, although the resin was damaged and the adhesive force between fiber bundles and resin decreased seriously after thermo-oxidative aging. Meanwhile, the ILSS retention rate of the laminated composites with the carbon fiber as intermediate layers was higher than that of the laminated composites with the glass fiber as the intermediate layers. This was because the carbon fiber/bismaleimide interface bonding performance was stronger than that of the glass fiber/bismaleimide at the same thermo-oxidative aging condition.

The small-size microstructure models of the 3D needled waste cotton fiber/epoxy composites (3DNWCFCs) were brought out to predict their key vibration parameters (natural frequency and mode shapes) with the finite element analysis method. Six kinds of 3DNWCFCs with different parameters were prepared and tested by the experimental modal analysis method to verify the accuracy of the prediction of the natural frequencies and mode shapes with the finite element method. The effects of the fiber volume content and needling density of the composites on the modal behavior were investigated. The natural frequency of the cantilever beams of the composites increased with the increase of the fiber volume content and increased at first then decreased with the increasing needling density. The effect of needling density on the vibration properties of the composite depended on the degree of damage and entanglement of Z-direction fibers. The comparative analysis of the finite element analysis and the experimental results showed that the small-size microstructure models of the 3DNWCFCs were effective to predict their vibration parameters. Therefore, the small-size finite element models can be used to predict the modal properties of the staple fiber reinforced composites effectively with less time and lower economic costs.

Recent increases in the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics, especially for high-temperature applications, has induced new challenges in evaluating their mechanical properties. The effects of temperature on the shear performance of 3-dimensional orthogonal and 2-dimensional plain woven composites were compared in this study through double-notch shear tests. A scanning electron microscope was employed to investigate the fiber/matrix interface properties to reveal the failure characteristics. The results showed that temperature had a visible impact on the inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS), deformation modes, and failure mechanism. The ILSS decreased as temperature increased, which was caused by the degradation of the matrix properties and fiber/matrix interface properties at high temperature. A finite element model was established to analyze the transient deformation process and the damage mechanism of the 3D orthogonal woven composite. This indicated that Z-binder yarns could improve the delamination resistance of 3D orthogonal woven composites, especially under high temperatures. The changes in failure modes of the 3D orthogonal woven composites was put down to thermal softening of the epoxy resin caused by high temperature and the undulation of the yarns.