Assessment of laminate damage micromechanisms using high resolution synchrotron radiation computed tomography & laminography

Abstract

Laminated fibre reinforced polymer composite materials are increasingly being applied within critical structures, with a corresponding demand for reliable damage prediction tools to reduce the time and cost associated with product development. The present work is carried out to underpin the evolution of micromechanically-based models by providing developers with a resource of 4D (time & spatially resolved) microstructural and micromechanical data obtained from high-resolution synchrotron radiation computed tomography of essentially standard materials. The intention is to share data with the composites community as part of the public materials data repository that is currently being developed within the University of Southampton’s School of Engineering Sciences. Testing was conducted at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) during in-situ loading of [90/0]s laminate in both small tensile coupon and larger plate forms. Image processing has been used to visualize the evolution of transverse ply cracks, longitudinal splits, inter-ply delaminations and associated interactions. Methods for full-field and full-volume crack displacement (e.g. mode I & II opening) are discussed