Controlling longitudinal compressive failure in CFRPs through bio-inspired nacre-like microstructural design
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Garulli, Torquato
Cheng, Yuan
Katafiasz, Tomas J
Greenhalgh, Emile S
Pinho, Silvestre T
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this work, we designed, prototyped, and tested a novel bio-inspired microstructural concept to control the longitudinal compressive failure mechanism of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) materials. Specifically, we took inspiration from nacre and devised a tiled microstructure capable of promoting a shift of the dominant failure mechanism of the CFRP material from fibre kinking to inelastic deformation and shear failure of the inter-tile matrix regions, leading to diffuse splitting damage. We used analytical models to estimate the stress levels in the tiles as a function of geometry and material properties. We selected three different design points and developed a procedure to manufacture, by laser micro-machining, the resulting bio-inspired microstructure. We manufactured and tested small scale specimens under 3-point bending. Although the architecture reduces bending stiffness and peak load compared with the baseline laminate, it promotes a clear shift from localized kinkband dominated damage to a more distributed, tile-guided damage process. As quantified by a nominal section analysis, this transition enables substantially larger nominal compressive surface strains at peak load, consistent with the observed diffusion of damage in the tiled region.
Date Issued
2026-09-01
Date Acceptance
2026-04-26
Citation
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2026, 208
ISSN
1359-835X
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Volume
208
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
109880
Date Publish Online
2026-05-15