Easy repair enabled by an interleaving ‘weak link’ strategy to localise damage in laminated fibre-reinforced polymer-matrix composites
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
An interleaving strategy for polymer matrix composite laminates is proposed to create a mechanical fuse allowing interlaminar damage to be localised in the interleaf, which can subsequently be repaired. To create the mechanical fuse, the laminates are interleaved with thermoplastic polymer films with suitable mechanical properties to act as a repairable weak link. Carbon fibre/epoxy laminates interleaved with polystyrene (PS) were investigated by three-point flexure and static indentation tests. In the three-point bending tests, shear–driven damage was observed in the interleaved region, and this damage was subsequently repaired by application of heat and pressure. After two damage-repair cycles, the stiffness was virtually fully recovered, and the shear strength restored to 88% of the pristine value. In the static indentation tests, the stiffness and damage onset force of the specimens recovered to 84% and 70% of the pristine values, respectively, after three damage-repair cycles.
Date Issued
2026-08-15
Date Acceptance
2026-05-14
Citation
Composites Part B: Engineering, 2026, 323
ISSN
1359-8368
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
113824
End Page
113824
Journal / Book Title
Composites Part B: Engineering
Volume
323
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
113824
Date Publish Online
2026-05-15