Effects of Process-Induced Voids on the Properties of Fibre Reinforced Composites

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2016.04.011

Abstract

Abstract: It is well known that voids have detrimental effects on the performance of composites. This study aims to provide a practical method for predicting the effects of process induced voids on the properties of composites. Representative volume elements (RVE) for carbon fibre/epoxy composites of various fibre volume fractions and void contents are created, and the moduli and strengths are derived by finite element analysis (FEA). Regression models are fitted to the FEA data for predicting composite properties including tensile, compressive and shear. The strengths of composite laminates including tensile strength and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) are calculated with the aid of the developed models. The model predictions are compared with various experimental data and good agreement is found. The outcome from this study provides a useful optimisation and robust design tool for realising affordable composite products when process induced voids are taken into account.

Key words: Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs), Voids, Strength, Modulus, Tensile, Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), Finite element analysis (FEA)

Chensong Dong. Effects of Process-Induced Voids on the Properties of Fibre Reinforced Composites[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2016, 32(7): 597-604.

Figures/Tables 14

RVEs of 50?µm?×?50?µm with three different fibre volume fractions: 33.73% (a), 42.92% (b), and 51.11% (c), for modelling the transverse properties.

Maximum void content of 17.64% for Vf?=?42.92%.

Boundary conditions for transverse properties.

Normal stress due to tensile load for transverse RVEs of 42.92% fibre volume fraction with no voids (a) and maximum voids (b).

Longitudinal moduli from the FEA predictions and the analytical approach.

Transverse moduli from the FEA and two analytical approaches.

Transverse modulus reduction vs. void content.

In-plane shear modulus reduction vs. void content.

Bilinear stress-strain relationship for epoxy.

Transverse strengths from FEA prediction and analytical model.

Relative transverse strengths from the FEA predictions and the regression model.

Tensile strengths from model and experiments.

ILSS from model and experiments.

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