Short fibre interlaminar reinforcement : a study of its applicability as an impact toughening method for carbon fibre

[Truncated] The use of carbon fibre/epoxy composites as a primary structural material is severely limited by its poor resistance and tolerance to impact. The most significant of these impacts are those that generate barely visible or invisible damage within a structure. This barely visible damage, often generated through low energy and low velocity impacts, can initiate substantially greater damage and potentially cause catastrophic failure. The area of toughening carbon fibre/epoxy structures is therefore one in which considerable research is directed. This research has developed many solutions, however few of these have been widely accepted due to increased fabrication costs or effects on other mechanical properties. The development of short fibre reinforcement (SFR), as an interlaminar toughening mechanism, is a method aimed primarily at the small to medium sized industries working with carbon fibre/epoxy pre-preg. This market is selected due to its limited ability to invest large sums of capital. The choice of pre-preg materials is due to its increasing acceptance within industry and the ease with which current equipment could be altered to produce SFR modified materials.