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The effect of voids on the flexural fatigue performance of unidirectional carbon fibre composites developed for wind turbine applications

The effect of voids on the flexural fatigue performance of unidirectional carbon fibre composites developed for wind turbine applications
The effect of voids on the flexural fatigue performance of unidirectional carbon fibre composites developed for wind turbine applications
The influence of voids in the initiation and propagation of static flexural and flexural fatigue failures of unidirectional carbon fibre composite was investigated. Vacuum pressure in the vacuum bag oven cure process was varied to produce void levels in the range 0.5–6%. The voids were characterised using image analysis and used to explain the static flexural strengths and flexural fatigue results. It was observed that mean void content and aspect ratios were less effective in explaining the mechanical property results than void size distributions. A strong correlation between large voids (area > 0.03 mm2) and a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties was found. This was attributed to the effect of these voids on the crack propagation in the resin rich inter-ply regions.
aspect ratio, cracks, delamination, fatigue, flexural strength, matrix cracking, stiffness reduction, voids, void size, void distribution
0142-1123
1398-1396
Chambers, A.R.
74fa9b7e-6362-478e-a038-15f2828c5446
Earl, J.S.
4c8c0748-35e0-498b-aea0-1a3b30df23ff
Squires, C.A.
2ae3a5be-fb24-46fe-aa99-e0b4279336f3
Suhot, M.A.
d6744673-bf0b-4418-a792-758b41d0806d
Chambers, A.R.
74fa9b7e-6362-478e-a038-15f2828c5446
Earl, J.S.
4c8c0748-35e0-498b-aea0-1a3b30df23ff
Squires, C.A.
2ae3a5be-fb24-46fe-aa99-e0b4279336f3
Suhot, M.A.
d6744673-bf0b-4418-a792-758b41d0806d

Chambers, A.R., Earl, J.S., Squires, C.A. and Suhot, M.A. (2006) The effect of voids on the flexural fatigue performance of unidirectional carbon fibre composites developed for wind turbine applications. International Journal of Fatigue, 28 (10), 1398-1396. (doi:10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2006.02.033).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The influence of voids in the initiation and propagation of static flexural and flexural fatigue failures of unidirectional carbon fibre composite was investigated. Vacuum pressure in the vacuum bag oven cure process was varied to produce void levels in the range 0.5–6%. The voids were characterised using image analysis and used to explain the static flexural strengths and flexural fatigue results. It was observed that mean void content and aspect ratios were less effective in explaining the mechanical property results than void size distributions. A strong correlation between large voids (area > 0.03 mm2) and a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties was found. This was attributed to the effect of these voids on the crack propagation in the resin rich inter-ply regions.

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More information

Published date: 3 April 2006
Additional Information: This paper is a new approach to understanding the effect of voids through their characteristics (shape, size and distribution on the flexural properties of composite materials. Research sponsored by industry ( D Bannister , Technical Director, Gurit Composites. International Journal fo Fatigue is the most appropriate choice for this research. Self assessment rating 3
Keywords: aspect ratio, cracks, delamination, fatigue, flexural strength, matrix cracking, stiffness reduction, voids, void size, void distribution

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 23667
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/23667
ISSN: 0142-1123
PURE UUID: 076238a1-7d20-4401-9731-196ebbeac163

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Date deposited: 12 Apr 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:49

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Contributors

Author: A.R. Chambers
Author: J.S. Earl
Author: C.A. Squires
Author: M.A. Suhot

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