Exploring the pseudo-ductility of aligned hybrid discontinuous composites using controlled fibre-type arrangements

J. M. Finley, H. Yu, M. L. Longana, S. Pimenta, M. S. P. Shaffer, K. D. Potter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (SciVal)
74 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Pseudo-ductility presents a potential means for preventing catastrophic failure in composite materials; large deformations will prevent brittle fracture and provide warning before final failure. This work explores how the pseudo-ductility and strength of aligned hybrid discontinuous composites can be controlled by manipulating the arrangement of different fibre types. Aligned carbon/glass hybrid specimens with different fibre arrangements are manufactured and tested using a modification to the High Performance Discontinuous Fibre (HiPerDiF) method. Experimental results are complemented by an improved virtual testing framework, which accurately captures the fracture behaviour of a range of hybrid discontinuous composite microstructures. With a randomly intermingled fibre arrangement as a baseline, a 27% increase in strength and a 44% increase in pseudo-ductility can be achieved when low elongation fibres are completely isolated from one-another. Results demonstrate that the HiPerDiF method is the current state-of-the-art for maximising the degree of intermingling and hence the pseudo-ductility of hybrid composites.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)592-606
Number of pages15
JournalComposites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Volume107
Early online date8 Dec 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Apr 2018

Funding

This work was funded under the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) programme grant EP/I02946X/1 on High Performance Ductile Composite Technology. S. Pimenta acknowledges the support from the Royal Academy of Engineering for her Research Fellowship on Multiscale discontinuous composites for large scale and sustainable structural applications (2015–2019).

Keywords

  • Fracture
  • Hybrid
  • Microstructures
  • Pseudo-ductility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Mechanics of Materials

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Exploring the pseudo-ductility of aligned hybrid discontinuous composites using controlled fibre-type arrangements'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this