Study on Effect of Matrix Properties on Fatigue Damage Initiation of Woven Carbon Fabric Vinylester Composites

Abstract

Plain woven carbon fabric composites using different types of vinyl ester (VE) resin with different toughness have been prepared. The mechanical performances were characterized by different tests, such as tensile, tension-tension fatigue, thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that with increasing of fracture toughness of VE as well as adhesive strength between VE and carbon fiber (CF), the tensile strength improved by a range from 23.1 to 33.9%, and fatigue life of CF/VE composites increased by several times to several ten times when low toughness VE was used as control resin. The fatigue damage initiation of CF/VE composites has been investigated by thermoelastic stress analysis. It was found that the initiation and growth of fatigue damage such as matrix cracks was delayed, the linkage of matrix cracks in transverse bundles was inhibited with increasing of fracture toughness and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of matrix resin.