On cyclic-fatigue crack growth in carbon-fibre-reinforced epoxy–polymer composites
File(s)Polymers 2024, 16, 435.pdf (691.99 KB)
Published version
Author(s)
Michel, Silvain
Murphy, Neal
Kinloch, Anthony J
Jones, Rhys
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The growth of cracks between plies, i.e., delamination, in continuous fibre polymer matrix composites under cyclic-fatigue loading in operational aircraft structures has always been a very important factor, which has the potential to significantly decrease the service life of such structures. Whilst current designs are based on a ‘no growth’ design philosophy, delamination growth can nevertheless arise in operational aircraft and compromise structural integrity. To this end, the present paper outlines experimental and data reduction procedures for continuous fibre polymer matrix composites, based on a linear elastic fracture mechanics approach, which are capable of (a) determining and computing the fatigue crack growth (FCG) rate, da/dN, curve; (b) providing two different methods for determining the mandated worst-case FCG rate curve; and (c) calculating the fatigue threshold limit, below which no significant FCG occurs. Two data reduction procedures are proposed, which are based upon the Hartman-Schijve approach and a novel simple-scaling approach. These two different methodologies provide similar worst-case curves, and both provide an upper bound for all the experimental data. The calculated FCG threshold values as determined from both methodologies are also in very good agreement.
Date Issued
2024-02
Date Acceptance
2024-01-27
Citation
Polymers, 2024, 16 (3), pp.1-17
ISSN
2073-4360
Publisher
MDPI AG
Start Page
1
End Page
17
Journal / Book Title
Polymers
Volume
16
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2024 by the authors.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/3/435
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
435
Date Publish Online
2024-02-04