Angle-ply orientation-dependent failure behaviors of carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates

This paper researches the micro-failure behaviors of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates with different angle-ply orientations subjected to tensile load. On the basis of the strain rates of 2.6 x 10(-6) s(-1) and 2.6 x 10(-3) s(-1), the significant difference in deformation behaviors of CFRP laminates with different angle-ply orientations are investigated by using a miniature tensile tester. The scanning electron microscopy images are used to assess fracture damage modes of CFRP laminates, including matrix cracking, delamination, fiber-matrix debonding, and fiber fracture, determined the "high-low-high" trend of the strength of laminates with the increase of ply angle. In order to analyze the crack propagation mechanism of laminates attributed to matrix micro-crack under uniaxial tensile load, two wide applicable micro-crack propagation models of laminates are proposed to explain the fracture damage failure behaviors of CFRP laminates with different angle-ply orientations.