Observations of damage development from compression-after-impact experiments using ex situ micro-focus computed tomography

Inclusion of a thermoplastic phase to improve impact and post-impact performances of carbon fibre reinforced thermosetting composites — A review

“…8. The particle bridging ligaments observed by Bull et al [55] using SRCT during CAI testing of laminates with a thermoplastic particle toughened matrix. laminate.…”

“…Bull et al [4,55,79,80] have conducted several studies into the improvements in damage tolerance that can be achieved by used prepregs with a thermosetting resin modified with thermoplastic particles of different sizes and resin chemistry (details on the sizes and chemistry of the thermoplastic particles were not disclosed). These investigations include in-depth examinations of damage on the micro-scale in thermoplastic particle toughened systems using novel techniques such as X-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) and synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SRCT).…”

“…Bull et al [55] recently investigated the progression of damage in carbon/epoxy laminates during a CAI test using micro-computed tomography (μCT). They found that the cone underneath the point of impact containing no delaminations plays an important role in stabilising the damaged laminate during compressive loading as it constrains the buckling deformation of the sub-laminates (Fig.…”

The influence of hydrothermal conditioning on the Mode-I, thermal and flexural properties of Carbon/Benzoxazine composites with a thermoplastic toughening interlayer

“…Studies have shown that toughening the bulk matrix system with particles -such as thermoplastics [4][5][6], carbon nanotubes [7,8] and rubber [9] -can enhance the Mode-I fracture toughness and fatigue performance [10,11] of the composite but can adversely affect other mechanical and thermal properties [12][13][14][15]. While it is an effective toughening technique, resin modification tends to increase viscosity -which poses a problem for infusion processing methods, such as VARTM -and particulate inclusions can agglomerate or migrate during resin infusion.…”

In situ synchrotron tomographic evaluation of the effect of toughening strategies on fatigue micromechanisms in carbon fibre reinforced polymers

“…To date, several approaches to toughening have been developed to a sufficient level of maturity that they are employed in service in CFRPs for aerospace applications; however, the underpinning micromechanisms of failure associated with the modified microstructures have not been widely investigated. Studies on toughening micromechanisms in composite laminates are relatively limited [10,[21][22][23][24], and the consequence of fatigue loading on the effectiveness of toughening strategies in particular has been largely neglected.…”