1. Failure mechanisms of biological crossed-lamellar microstructures applied to synthetic high-performance fibre-reinforced composites
- Author
-
R. Häsä, Silvestre T. Pinho, and Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
- Subjects
Technology ,Toughness ,Materials Science ,Composite number ,STROMBUS-GIGAS ,Materials Science, Multidisciplinary ,Fractography ,02 engineering and technology ,Mechanics ,01 natural sciences ,09 Engineering ,010305 fluids & plasmas ,TOUGHNESS ,Biomimetics ,0103 physical sciences ,Mechanical Engineering & Transports ,Lamellar structure ,Composite material ,Fibre-reinforced composite material ,01 Mathematical Sciences ,GIGAS CONCH SHELL ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Science & Technology ,02 Physical Sciences ,Physics ,Mechanical Engineering ,QUEEN CONCH ,Mechanical testing ,Polymer ,FRACTURE MECHANISMS ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Microstructure ,Toughening ,Finite element method ,Physics, Condensed Matter ,chemistry ,Mechanics of Materials ,Physical Sciences ,PSEUDO-DUCTILITY ,Microstructures ,0210 nano-technology ,MATRIX ,BEHAVIOR - Abstract
This paper investigates whether the toughening mechanisms of a biological crossed-lamellar microstructure can be reproduced in a synthetic high-performance carbon fibre/epoxy matrix composite. The mechanics of the failure process in synthetic crossed-lamellar microstructures was investigated using the Finite Element Method. This enabled the design of a high-performance carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) with such microstructure. Two different procedures were then developed to synthesise the first crossed-lamellar microstructures in CFRP in the literature. Test specimens were subsequently manufactured. Three-point bend tests were carried out in an SEM environment, showcasing the damage diffusion capability of the microstructure under stable conditions. The results show that the crossed-lamellar microstructure can be synthesised in CFRP with good accuracy, and that the mechanical toughening mechanisms associated with the natural crossed-lamellar microstructures can be reproduced in this synthetic material.
- Published
- 2019