Testing of nanoparticle-toughened carbon/epoxy composites using the short beam strength method

Jeffrey J. Kim, Aniruddh Vashisth, Charles E. Bakis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

ASTM D2344, referred to as the short beam strength (SBS) method, is a commonly used test method for assessing the interlaminar shear strength of composite materials. The method utilizes a short unidirectionally reinforced composite beam specimen loaded in three-point bending. Due to the three-point loading configuration, the failure mode can be influenced by a combination of interlaminar shear at the midplane of the specimen, transverse contact stress under the central loading roller, and fiber-direction compression stress under the central roller. The objective of the current investigation is to explore two approaches for improving the interlaminar shear strength of carbon/epoxy composites-nanosilica or and/or core-shell-rubber (CSR) particles added to the epoxy matrix- and to explore the use of short beam testing a means of measuring interlaminar shear strength in carbon fiber composites made with these matrix materials. Matrix properties such as mass density, Young's modulus and Mode I fracture toughness are provided along with the constituent contents and SBS of the fiber composites. It is shown that the use of different nanoparticles significantly affects the density, Young's modulus, and Mode I fracture toughness of the matrix. Proper interlaminar shear failure modes were observed in the baseline epoxy and NS toughened composite systems, but not in any of the CSR toughened composites including the CSR/NS hybrids. The reduction of matrix modulus caused by CSR appears to promote an indentation/flexure failure before the interlaminar stresses are sufficiently high to fail the specimen by shear.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017
EditorsR. Byron Pipes, Wenbin Yu, Johnathan Goodsell
PublisherDEStech Publications Inc.
Pages2708-2722
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9781510853065
StatePublished - 2017
Event32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017 - West Lafayette, United States
Duration: Oct 23 2017Oct 25 2017

Publication series

Name32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017
Volume4

Other

Other32nd Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWest Lafayette
Period10/23/1710/25/17

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ceramics and Composites

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