Damage arrest mechanisms in nanoparticle interleaved composite interfaces

The effectiveness of carbonaceous nanoparticles in arresting and delaying damage in nanocomposites has been attributed to multiscale toughening mechanisms. To explore their application in joined interfaces of composites, this study investigates the use of carbon nanotube (CNT) interleaved films for co-cured joining of composite parts and their...

Fracture toughness and performance of resistance-welded and co-bonded thermoset/thermoplastic polymer composite hybrid joints

Modern aerospace structures see increasing use of combinations of thermoplastic and thermoset composite components, requiring the development of efficient joining methods for dissimilar matrix materials. This study aimed to investigate the Mode I fracture toughness and performance of resistance-welded and co-bonded thermoset-thermoplastic...

Characterization and analysis of the interlaminar behavior of thermoplastic composites considering fiber bridging and R-curve effects

Thermoplastic composites can enable the development of new manufacturing techniques to make the aviation industry more sustainable while at the same time greatly benefit cost-efficient and high-volume production. One of the thermoplastic composite materials that can enable this transition is AS4D/PEKK-FC. In this work, the interlaminar...

Influence of interface ply orientation on delamination growth in composite laminates

The standard experimental procedures for determining the interlaminar fracture toughness are designed for delamination propagation in unidirectional specimens. However, in aerospace structural components, delamination usually occurs between plies at different orientations resulting in different damage mechanisms which can increase the value...