TY - JOUR
T1 - Micro-mechanics modeling of compressive strength and elastic modulus enhancements in unidirectional CFRP with aramid pulp micro/nano-fiber interlays
AU - Jiang, Hongyong
AU - Cheng, Fei
AU - Hu, Yusen
AU - Ji, Yi
AU - Hu, Xiaozhi
AU - Ren, Yiru
PY - 2021/4/12
Y1 - 2021/4/12
N2 - Compressive strength and elastic modulus of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (UD-CFRP) have been enhanced experimentally by using soft micro-length Aramid pulp (AP) micro/nano-fiber interlays. This study presents a micro-mechanics model to prove theoretically such enhancements in the compressive strength and elastic modulus of UD-CFRP are possible. The micro-mechanics model recognizes the importance of in-situ formed graded interfacial region between carbon fiber plies generated from the random distribution and out-of-plane movements of micro-length AP micro/nano-fibers. The micro-mechanics model shows that even an areal density of only ~4 g/m2 of AP micro/nano-fibers (with the interlay thickness < 30 μm) is sufficient to generate the enhancements in both compressive strength and elastic modulus along the carbon fiber direction of UD-CFRP. The new micro-buckling or shear failure mechanism has been identified to be responsible for the compressive strength enhancement, instead of local delamination in plain UD-CFRP. The theoretical and experimental findings show interfacial microstructural designs at the carbon fiber ply interface can be critical to the bulk properties of CFRP.
AB - Compressive strength and elastic modulus of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (UD-CFRP) have been enhanced experimentally by using soft micro-length Aramid pulp (AP) micro/nano-fiber interlays. This study presents a micro-mechanics model to prove theoretically such enhancements in the compressive strength and elastic modulus of UD-CFRP are possible. The micro-mechanics model recognizes the importance of in-situ formed graded interfacial region between carbon fiber plies generated from the random distribution and out-of-plane movements of micro-length AP micro/nano-fibers. The micro-mechanics model shows that even an areal density of only ~4 g/m2 of AP micro/nano-fibers (with the interlay thickness < 30 μm) is sufficient to generate the enhancements in both compressive strength and elastic modulus along the carbon fiber direction of UD-CFRP. The new micro-buckling or shear failure mechanism has been identified to be responsible for the compressive strength enhancement, instead of local delamination in plain UD-CFRP. The theoretical and experimental findings show interfacial microstructural designs at the carbon fiber ply interface can be critical to the bulk properties of CFRP.
KW - Aramid pulp micro/nano-fiber
KW - Fiber interleave
KW - Graded interface
KW - Micro-buckling/shear or delamination
KW - Short/micro-length fiber interfacial toughening
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100050613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2021.108664
DO - 10.1016/j.compscitech.2021.108664
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85100050613
SN - 0266-3538
VL - 206
JO - Composites Science and Technology
JF - Composites Science and Technology
M1 - 108664
ER -