The effect of solid particle erosion on the mechanical properties and fatigue life of fiber-reinforced composites

The effect of solid particle erosion on the strength and fatigue properties of E-glass/epoxy composite is investigated. Solid particle erosion with SiC particles of 400-500 mu m in diameter is simulated on 12-ply [45 degrees/-45 degrees/0 degrees/45 degrees/ -45 degrees/0 degrees]s E-glass/epoxy composites with a constant particle velocity of 42.5 m/s and a solid particle to air volume ratio of 6 kg/m(3) at impact angles of 90, 60, and 30 degrees for 30, 60, 90, and 120 s. Damaged and undamaged specimens are subjected to tensile tests while monitoring their acoustic emission (AE) activity. An erosion damage parameter is defined as a function of the particle impact angle and the erosion duration to determine the residual tensile strength of the composite. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the erosion-damaged specimens reveal that the same damage mechanism occurs at different impact angles. The AE stress delay parameter is used to predict the residual tensile strength of erosion-damaged composites. Tension-tension fatigue tests are performed on virgin specimens and specimens exposed to erosion damage of 60 and 90s at 90 degrees particle impact angle to observe the effects of erosion damage on the fatigue life. A modified Basquin's equation is defined to predict the fatigue life of the erosion-damaged specimens.