3D in situ observations of glass fibre/matrix interfacial debonding

X-ray microtomography was used for 3D in situ observations of the evolution of fibre/matrix interfacial debonding. A specimen with a single fibre oriented perpendicular to the tensile direction was tested at a synchrotron facility using a special loading rig which allowed for applying a load transverse to the fibre. Three distinguishable damage stages were observed: (i) interfacial debond initiation at the free surface, (ii) debond propagation from the surface into the specimen and (iii) unstable debonding along the full length of the scanned volume. The high resolution microtomography provides both qualitative and quantitative 3D data of the debonding initiation and propagation. Thus, microtomography is demonstrated as a promising technique which can assist micromechanical model development.     

Uniaxial and biaxial flexural fatigue of glass reinforced inter-penetrated network polymer composites

Conclusions Flexural fatigue of uniaxially and biaxially stressed IPN/glass mat composites was investigated using four point bend (4PB) and concentrically loaded (CL) specimen geometries. Regions of nearly constant bending moment between the inner spans of a 4PB beam and within the inner annulus of a CL circular plate yield quasi-uniform uniaxial and biaxial stress, respectively, on the tensile faces. The specimen dimensions were optimized for both loading geometries to give: (1) reduced specimen deflection through maximizing the ratio of the induced tensile stresses to the applied load, (2) minimized contact stresses by maximizing the induced stress with respect to the unit contact load, and (3) a large material volume exposed to the maximum cyclic stress (i.e., statistical fracture initiation).A power model was used to analyze the fatigue data for the 4PB and CL specimens. Both IPN composite materials studied fatigued more rapidly under the more severe loading conditions imposed by the CL specimen geometry.Fractography revealed that debond fracture was the dominant damage process for both geometries. The initial debond cracks were uniformly distributed throughout the stressed regions, confirming the presence of nearly uniform tensile stress. Damage localization followed after further cycling and was characterized by a locally high debond fracture density, fiber fracture, and always occurred where several glass strands crossed near the specimen surface. Final specimen failure resulted from the preferential growth of dominant cracks through the specimen thickness.     

Determination of fiber/matrix adhesion using the Outwater–Murphy single fiber specimen

Fiber/matrix (F/M) interface toughness values of carbon/vinylester 411 and glass/vinylester 411 has been determined using the Outwater–Murphy (OM) single-fiber compression test specimen. The OM test specimen consists of a rectangular block of matrix with a centrally embedded fiber with a hole drilled through the specimen and the fiber. Upon loading of the specimen in compression, the fiber may debond at the hole edge. The interface toughness can be determined from the measured values of the critical load for debonding. The fiber/matrix debond toughness values for dry carbon/vinylester and glass/vinylester were 51.2 and 38 J/m², respectively, in reasonable agreement with previously published data determined using other test methods. Testing of water immersed carbon/vinylester 411 and glass/vinylester 411 OM specimens revealed significant reductions of the fiber/matrix adhesion.     

Determination of interfacial mechanical properties of ceramic composites by the compression of micro-pillar test specimens

A novel method to determine the fiber-matrix interfacial properties of ceramic matrix composites is proposed and evaluated; where micro-pillar samples containing inclined fiber/matrix interfaces were prepared from a SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix composites and then compression-tested using the nano-indentation technique. This new test method employs a simple geometry and mitigates the uncertainties associated with complex stress state in the conventional single-filament push-out method or tensile unloading–reloading hysteresis loop analysis method for the determination of interfacial properties. Based on the test results using samples with different interface orientations, the interfacial debond shear strength and the internal friction coefficient are explicitly determined and compared with values obtained by other test methods. SEM observation showed that micro compression caused an adhesive type of debonding between the fiber and the pyrolytic carbon interface. The results suggest that the debonding/failure behavior of the micro-pillars followed the Coulomb fracture criterion. The determined interfacial debond shear strength is ~100 MPa, which appears to be smaller than that determined from fiber push-out test for similar composite systems. The difference can be explained by the effect of normal stress (clamping stress) on the apparent interfacial debond shear strength.     

Microstructural evaluation and fiber debonding in aligned ceramic-matrix composites

The slice compression test (SCT) represents a new approach for the estimation of the interfacial shear stress and debond length in fiber-reinforced ceramics. The technique is based upon multiple measurements and simultaneous loading of a large number of fibres in the test specimen. The specimen slice is compressed between a hard ceramic anvil and a ductile metal to produce interfacial debonding and slippage as a result of the fiber/matrix elastic mismatch. The extent of fiber protrusion under maximum load and the residual protrusion of the fibres after load relaxation are the experimentally determined parameters and have been measured for a laminate reinforced with Nicalon SiC fiber (LASIII). The minimum applied stress for the initiation of debonding was estimated. In addition, the microstructure of the ceramic composite was quantitatively characterized to determine numerical values of the microstructural parameters which could affect the interfacial shear stress. The fiber diameters and spatial fiber distribution were determined to obtain the degree of order of the fibers within the composite.     

Investigation of combined stress state failure criterion for glass fiber/epoxy interface by the cruciform specimen method

The interfacial failure criterion under combined stress state in a glass fiber/epoxy composite is investigated by the cruciform specimen method. Experiments were conducted by using specimens with a fiber whose angle from the loading direction is varied in order to make various stress state of normal and shear at the interface. Finite element analysis is performed to calculate the interfacial stress distribution. By combining the experimental measurement of the specimen stress at the interfacial debonding initiation and the finite element stress analysis, it is possible to obtain the interfacial stress state at interfacial failure. A method to determine the interfacial failure criterion and the interfacial failure initiation location simultaneously is proposed in the present study. We conclude the value of the interfacial shear strength is higher than that of the interfacial normal strength for the material system used in the present study.     

Investigation of damage mechanisms in self-reinforced polyethylene composites by acoustic emission

The objective of this study is to investigate the damage mechanisms in self-reinforced polyethylene composite laminates (UHMWPE/HDPE) under monotonic tensile loading by the acoustic emission (AE) technique. Fracture surface examinations were conducted using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using model specimens exhibiting a dominant failure mechanism, correlations were established between the observed damage growth mechanisms and the AE results in terms of the events amplitude. These correlations can be used to monitor the damage growth process in the UHMWPE/HDPE composite laminates exhibiting multiple modes of damage. Results from this study revealed that the AE technique is a viable and effective tool for identifying damage mechanisms such as fiber–matrix debonding, matrix cracking, fiber pull-out, fiber breakage and delamination in the UHMWPE/HDPE composite materials.     

Single-fibre Broutman test: fibre–matrix interface transverse debonding

The single-fibre Broutman test was used to study the fibre–matrix interface debonding behaviour when subjected to a transverse tensile stress. During testing, damage was detected using both visual observation under polarized light and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. Separation of failure mechanisms, based on AE events, was performed using time domain parameters (amplitude and event width) and fast Fourier transform (FFT) frequency spectra of the AE waveforms. The latter can be considered as a fingerprint allowing to discriminate fibre failure, matrix cracking, fibre–matrix interface debonding, friction and ‘parasite noise’. Stresses in the specimens were evaluated using a two-dimensional finite element model (FEM) and monochromatic photoelasticity was used to verify the simulated stress distribution.Two failure mechanisms appeared to be in competition in the Broutman test: fibre failure under compressive stresses and fibre–matrix interface debonding under transverse tensile stresses. For systems in which the interfacial adhesion is not so ‘good’, like glass fibre–polyester systems for instance, fibre–matrix debonding was observed, and the progression of the debonding front with the interfacial transverse stress was recorded. Thermal stresses are also discussed, and a FEM simulation shows that they encourage fibre failure under compressive stresses.     

单向碳纤维增强碳化硅基复合材料的拉伸试验

采用手工精细加工板状双哑呤拉伸试件,并配以恰当的加强块,避免了因试件较短和加工等引起的夹持段压环,从夹持段拔出及试件在试验段根部破坏等问题,成功地实施了短试件（热压法制备的单向碳纤维增强碳化硅基体复合材料）的拉伸试验,微实时观察表明,由于界面强度非常弱,试件中首先出现因界面破坏而形成的沿纤维方向的裂纹,随着载荷的增加,裂纹数量迅速增多且裂纹均平行于纤维方向,最终,这些平行裂纹横向连接使试件被拉断,因此,对于界面强度过弱的单向纤维增强陶瓷基复合材料不可能产生横向的饱和裂纹。     

复合材料随机渐进失效分析与声发射监测

结合随机渐进失效分析方法和声发射监测对复合材料单向拉伸试件进行损伤分析。结果表明: 随机渐进失效方法能很好地反映复合材料失效的随机性和渐进性特征。受载初期, 复合材料失效的随机性特征明显, 在整个试件内均有失效产生。随着载荷的增加, 损伤不断累积, "随机临界核"形成, 复合材料很快失效, 且一旦有失效产生, 纤维断裂数的增加与声发射事件数的累积具有很好的一致性。比较基体开裂和界面脱粘对复合材料拉伸性能的影响: 界面脱粘比基体开裂更容易导致复合材料拉伸性能的下降, 当不存在基体开裂和界面脱粘时, 纤维断裂呈现"集簇"特征, 复合材料断裂的脆性特征较为明显。      

An Investigation of Interfacial Fatigue in Fiber Reinforced Composites

Based on the shear-lag model and the modified degradation formula for coefficient of friction, the interfacial fatigue and debonding for fiber reinforced composites under cyclic loading are studied. The loading condition is chosen as the kind that is the most frequently used in fiber-pull-out experiments. The stress components in the debonded and bonded regions are obtained according to the maximum and minimum applied loading. By the aid of theory of fracture mechanics and Paris formula, the governing equation is solved numerically and the interfacial debonding is simulated. The relationships between the parameters (such as the debond rate, debond length, debond force) and the number of cycles are obtained.     

Fracture mechanics of single-fibre pull-out test

Pull-out of an elastic fibre from an elastic matrix was investigated. A simple pull-out mechanics has been developed, based on the fracture energy criterion, to describe the debonding process, including friction. Experiments were carried out using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibres embedded in a polypropylene (PP) matrix. It was found that growth of an interfacial crack was stable after the initiation of a debond at the loaded fibre end. At first, the debonding force increased linearly with the crack length due to friction in the debonded region. However, the crack accelerated after reaching a critical length, dependent on the embedded fibre length. At this point, the force required to propagate the debond levelled off. Thus, further increase in the debonding force was not necessary to further complete the debonding process. The debonding force was found to be in good agreement with that predicted by the present theory. Techniques for determining the interfacial properties, including adhesive fracture energy, compressive residual stress and coefficient of friction, were considered. In addition, a simple criterion has been derived to predict which fibre end, either embedded end or loaded end, will debond first when the specimen is subjected to an axial load.     

不同荷载条件下型钢-钢纤维混凝土组合结构的界面失效机理研究

为了解决型钢混凝土结构中型钢与钢筋相互干扰、混凝土浇筑困难等施工难题,将型钢混凝土结构中的钢筋笼完全或部分替换成钢纤维,形成了型钢-钢纤维混凝土组合结构。完成了36个试件的推出试验和13个试件的四点弯试验,分别研究了型钢-钢纤维混凝土组合结构在轴心力与弯矩作用下的界面失效,分析了不同荷载条件下的内力传递与破坏机理。钢纤维在混凝土裂缝处的拉拔行为形成了“桥接”效应,约束了裂缝扩展,改善混凝土裂后的抗拉性能,可以解决因保护层减小而导致的型钢与钢纤维混凝土界面黏结性能变差的问题,延缓甚至避免界面黏结失效的发生。轴心力作用下,因泊松比产生了型钢与钢纤维混凝土之间的界面挤压,钢纤维混凝土在两个正交水平方向承受拉力,这是钢纤维混凝土损伤与开裂的主要原因。钢纤维混凝土的损伤程度与界面的黏结性能有直接的关系,同时受到钢材泊松比的影响。在四点弯试验中,黏结裂缝集中出现在仅承受弯矩的跨中区域,型钢与钢纤维混凝土之间的内力传递以及由此产生的界面拉应力是导致黏结裂缝大量出现的根本原因。黏结裂缝首先出现在钢翼缘的肢尖位置,并随着荷载的增大由内向外发展,直至发展到表面,形成可视裂缝。跨中区域最终形成了钢纤维混凝土保护层梯形破坏面。     

‘Bundle-debond’ technique for characterizing fibre/matrix interfacial adhesion

An experimental technique called bundle-debonding, has been developed for characterizing the interfacial adhesion of fibre bundles and matrix. The specimen is double-notched and contains a partially embedded fibre layer in between the notches. When a tensile load is applied at the specimen ends, the load transfer across the notch and between two pieces of matrix, occurs through the interface between a single layer of fibres and matrix. Kevlar-29 (Kelvar is a registered trademark of E.I. duPont de nemours) fibre tows were used in conjunction with a solid phenolic resin to fabricate the specimens. Experiments were conducted at various embedded lengths resulting in interfacial debond. A simple shear-lag analysis was carried out to determine the interfacial shear strength. The interfacial shear strength of Kevlar-29/phenolic resin has been determined to be 15 MPa. This technique is promising for application on several fibre/matrix systems, specially for fibres of extremely low nominal diameter, supplied as tows.     

聚乙烯自增强复合材料损伤过程的声发射特征

复合材料在承受外载时, 声发射可产生于基体破裂、纤维-基体界面脱粘和纤维断裂等。测定了U HMWPE/ HDPE 复合材料在拉伸载荷作用下的声发射(AE) 振幅信号。对特殊试样, 即预测到断裂有明确方式, 如纤维-基体界面脱粘、基体破裂、纤维断裂和分层等的试样, 实施加载直至破坏。用扫描电子显微镜(SEM) 观测试样的断裂表面, 对产生于若干特殊损伤类型的AE 信号进行了鉴别。在相同加载条件下, 完成了不同种类的U HMWPE/ HDPE 准各向同性层合板声发射检测。结果在特殊试样损伤类型与声发射信号事件振幅之间建立了对应关系, 揭示了上述各种准各向同性层合板损伤扩展过程的AE 特征与损伤破坏机制。各种准各向同性层合板试样的声发射事件累计数对拉伸应力关系曲线相异, 其相同损伤类型发生时所对应的拉伸载荷水平不等, 表明它们的铺设角度和铺设顺序对损伤演变过程有显著的影响。结果证实了它们的最终破坏由严重层间分层造成。      

Wavelet transform of acoustic emission signals in failure of model composites

The fundamental characteristics of acoustic emission (AE) signals, such as the attenuation, and frequency dependency of AE signals, were investigated and the fracture process of the single fiber composite (s.f.c.) was examined. As a result, the frequencies of AE signals were almost unchanged, while the amplitudes attenuated greatly with the increment of the propagation length. This proved that the frequency analysis is an effective way in processing AE signals of composite materials. In the fracture process of the s.f.c., the number of AE events was in a good agreement with the number of fiber breakages, and the sources of AE signals were the failure modes at fiber breakages. Using the proposed time-frequency method of wavelet transform (WT) to process AE signals, the microfailure modes at a fiber breakage and the microfracture mechanism, such as the sequence of each failure mode and their interaction, were made clearer. These indicated that both processing methods of AE signals, fast-Fourier transform and WT, were powerful for identifying the microfailure modes and for elucidating the microfracture mechanisms in composite materials.     

On the analysis of a mixed mode bending sandwich specimen for debond fracture characterization

The mixed mode bending specimen originally developed for mixed mode delamination fracture characterization of unidirectional composites has been extended to the study of debond propagation in foam cored sandwich specimens. The compliance and strain energy release rate expressions for the mixed mode bending sandwich specimen are derived based on a superposition analysis of solutions for the double cantilever beam and cracked sandwich beam specimens by applying a proper kinematic relationship for the specimen deformation combined with the loading provided by the test rig. This analysis provides also expressions for the global mode mixities. An extensive parametric analysis to improve the understanding of the influence of loading conditions, specimen geometry and mechanical properties of the face and core materials has been performed using the derived expressions and finite element analysis. The mixed mode bending compliance and energy release rate predictions were in good agreement with finite element results. Furthermore, the numerical crack surface displacement extrapolation method implemented in finite element analysis was applied to determine the local mode mixity at the tip of the debond.     

基于声发射信号模式识别的 UHMWPE/ LDPE复合材料损伤机制分析

测定了 U HMWPE/ LDPE复合材料在准静态拉伸作用下的声发射 (AE) 信号 , 用无监督模式识别方法对预处理后的 AE信号进行分类 , 据此分析了几种试样 (0° 、90° 和 [ + 45° / - 45° ]) 的损伤机制。研究表明 ,模式识别 (PR) 方法能识别出试样中基体开裂、 纤维2基体界面脱粘、 纤维抽拔和纤维断裂等损伤模式 , 识别结果与利用扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 对破坏断面观察得到的结果一致。U HMWPE/ LDPE复合材料的 AE信号特征只受损伤模式的影响而与试样类型无关 , PR方法能有效地区分不同损伤模式的 AE信号 , 每种损伤模式的 AE信号累计数对应变的关系曲线能清楚地反映复合材料的损伤进程。AE信号的 PR分析为复合材料的损伤机制分析提供了准确依据。      

An efficient BEM to calculate weight functions and its application to bridging analysis in an orthotropic medium

An efficient boundary element method to calculate crack weight functions is developed. The weight function method is applied to bridging effect analysis in a single-edge notched composite specimen by using a bridging law which includes both interfacial debonding and sliding properties between fiber and matrix in ceramic matrix composites. A numerical method to solve the distributed spring model treating bridging fibers as stress distribution to close the crack surface is provided to determine the bridging stress, debond length, crack opening displacement and stress intensity factor.     

基于声发射信号的三维针刺C/SiC复合材料拉伸损伤演化研究

本研究对三维针刺C/SiC(3-dimension needled C/SiC, 3D-N C/SiC)复合材料进行室温单调拉伸和拉伸加载-卸载试验, 利用声发射技术对试样损伤演化进行动态监测。采用K-均值聚类分析方法对小波降噪后的声发射信号进行了损伤模式识别, 结合试样断口扫描电镜观测, 发现3D-N C/SiC复合材料在拉伸载荷作用下主要存在五类损伤模式: 基体开裂、界面脱粘、界面滑移、纤维断裂和纤维束断裂。通过快速傅里叶变换(FFT)方法对小波降噪后的信号进行频谱分析得出: 3D-N C/SiC复合材料在拉伸载荷作用下主要存在240、370和455 kHz三种频率的损伤信号, 分别对应于界面损伤、基体损伤和纤维损伤。结合单调拉伸试验过程声发射信号能量柱分布和加卸载过程累积能量曲线特征, 分析了试样损伤演化机理。