Flexural fatigue and fracture toughness behavior of nanoclay reinforced carbon fiber epoxy composites

Abstract

3-point flexural fatigue and Mode I interlaminar fracture tests were done to study the fatigue life and fracture toughness of nanoclay added carbon fiber epoxy composites. Fatigue life data was analyzed using Weibull distribution function, validated with Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit, and predicted by combined Weibull and Sigmoidal models, respectively. The nanophased samples showed more than 300% improvement in mean and predicted fatigue life. At 0.7 stress level, the nanophased samples passed the ‘run-out’ fatigue criteria (106 cycles), whereas, the neat samples failed much earlier. The interlaminar fracture toughness of nanophased samples was also enhanced significantly by 71% over neat samples. Optical and scanning electron microscopic images of the nanophased fractured samples revealed certain features that improved the respective fatigue and fracture properties of the composites.

Fatigue analysis and fracture toughness of graphene reinforced carbon fibre polymer composites

“…The addition of GnP in the matrix improved the interfacial strength between the epoxy and fibre, and the nanographene acts as a bridging zone during the crack propagation through the matrix. [48][49][50] The incorporation of strong nanofiller GnP at the weak interface of the resin-rich region between the fibres promotes additional toughening mechanism through crack deflection, [51][52][53] filler debonding, filler interlocking and filler pullout. 26,54 These consequently enhanced fibrematrix interaction and also the fracture toughness.…”

Temperature‐dependent inter‐laminar fracture behavior of waste short carbon fiber embedded glass fiber/epoxy composites

“…Fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) are broadly utilized in automobile, aerospace, civil structure, marine, and sports sectors because they provide good specific modulus, specific strength, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance at different environmental conditions. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Abbreviations: 0.1SCF-GE, 0.1 wt% (with respective to epoxy) of discontinuous carbon fibers incorporated in glass/epoxy composite; 0.3SCF-GE, 0.3 wt% (with respective to epoxy) of discontinuous carbon fibers incorporated in glass/epoxy composite; 0.5SCF-GE, 0.5 wt% (with respective to epoxy) of discontinuous carbon fiber incorporated in glass/ epoxy composite; DCB, double cantilever beam; ENF, end notched flexure; FRPC, fiber reinforced polymer composite; GE, glass fiber/ epoxy; ILFT, interlaminar fracture toughness; SCF, short carbon fiber.…”

“…Fiber‐reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) are broadly utilized in automobile, aerospace, civil structure, marine, and sports sectors because they provide good specific modulus, specific strength, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance at different environmental conditions 1–8 . In recent years, improving the out‐of‐plane mechanical performance of FRPC has seen substantial growth.…”