Experimental researches on the mechanical properties of three dimensional multidirectional braided composites

This paper investigated the mechanical properties and the relationships between fiber architecture and the composites properties of three-dimensional multidirectional braided composites made of Toray(@)T700 carbon fiber impregnated with TDE 86# epoxy resin using RTM. The strength and stiffness properties measured here include tension, compression, flexure and short beam shear, all of these in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. It is found that the 3D six-directional braided composites with 55 % fiber volume fraction and 25 degrees surface braiding angle represent quasi-isotropic in-plane elastic behaviors due to their symmetric, intertwined architecture and unidirectional reinforcements in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. Compared with the tension strength and modulus, those for compressions in the same directions descend near 40% and 10% respectively. The cut-edge on the width destroys the integrity of microstructure and inevitably cuts down the carrying capacity of composites under the longitudinal tension.