Pseudo-ductile compressive behaviour of unidirectional thin-ply carbon/glass fibre-epoxy hybrid composites

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

Putu Suwarta (University of Bristol, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember)

M. R. Wisnom (University of Bristol)

M. Fotouhi (TU Delft - Materials and Environment)

Xun Wu (University of Bristol, University of Southampton)

G. Czél (Budapest University of Technology and Economics)

Research Group
Materials and Environment
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.108877
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Research Group
Materials and Environment
Volume number
195
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Abstract

Favourable pseudo-ductile behaviour under compressive loading with a knee-point was achieved for unidirectional (UD) interlayer hybrids made of thin-ply high modulus carbon/epoxy (CF/EP) layers sandwiched between standard thickness glass/epoxy (GF/EP). The UD thin-ply hybrids were tested under two loading scenarios: 1. Direct compressive loading, 2. Four-point bending loading. In both cases, the damage mechanisms responsible for the pseudo-ductile behaviour are fragmentation of the carbon layer and localised delamination, which later propagates unstably. The final failure of the UD thin-ply hybrid composites examined in four-point bending loading occurs at a higher strain than that under direct compressive loading. This is due to the strain gradient in bending, which results in a lower energy release rate than in direct compression. An increasing carbon layer thickness reduces the final delamination failure strain of the UD thin-ply hybrid composites in compression, but the knee-point strain is not affected.