ABSTRACT:The effects of the diameter, gauge length, and volume of carbon fibers on the tensile properties and their variation are discussed on the basis of the weak-link theory and Weibull distribution in a single-filament test. As far as variation is concerned, the stress of carbon fibers should be obtained by the division of the force not by the mean cross section of all the fibers but by the cross section of individual fibers because of the diameter variation. The volume effect of carbon fibers influences not only the mean of the tensile properties but also their variation. The experimental results indicate that the volume dependence in the radial direction is much bigger than that in the axial direction.
Both the strength and its variance of carbon fibers depend on the worst flaw that exists in the fiber, or more exactly speaking, on the structure of the ''fiber weak link'' (FWL). To better understand the strength-structure relationship, the fracture-ends morphologies were examined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The weak links of carbon fibers were divided into three groups according to its tensile strength, and the effect of the carbon FWLs on the strength variance was also discussed. The observation by SEM, the analysis on fiber tensile properties, and the corresponding discussion of the two sorts of results indicate that both surface flaw and the incompact structure decrease the strength of carbon fiber and enlarge the strength variance of carbon fiber. The modulus seems to influence the strength of carbon fibers too. It is also confirmed that not only the size of the fracture mirror but also the ratio of the size of the mirror to the fracture surface area (not cross section area) is important for judging the strength of brittle fibers.
ABSTRACT:The tensile behavior of carbon fibers shows large scattering. This is due to the fiber itself and the testing operations. Because of the high tenacity and modulus, low strain, and easy breakability in bending, not only is the tensile test for single carbon fibers extremely difficult, but the measured results are also oppugned. To achieve a reliable and accurate characterization, several factors influencing the objective and exact testing of single carbon fibers have been measured and discussed, including the wrong pretension, nonaxial stretching, and adhesion effects. The experimental results indicate that the error of strain causing them ranges from 1.5 to 12.3%. Because of the typical linear stress-strain curves of carbon fibers, the ratio of the strain error to the modulus error is approximately equal to 1 : 1, so the calibration of the measured strain must be conducted for the accurate evaluation of the modulus and itself. The calibration is put forward.
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