Compressive Strength/Degradation Relationship of Carbon/BMI Composites after Thermal Cycling and Aging for the Second Generation SST Structures

摘要

Carbon fiber/organic matrix composite laminates have potential uses as light structural materials for the second generation supersonic transport but they must undergo rigorous testing to be qualified. The qualification of composite materials requires a significant number of physical and mechanical tests. Carbon/BMI composite systems have been developed recently and have shown some good mechanical properties even at elevated temperatures. However, fundamental understanding of mechanical characteristics associated with damage must be emphasized to predict the response of the material systems to long-term exposure in service environments. Since the compression testing has been proven to be meaningful and relevant for the behavior analysis of material structures, the understanding can be established by residual compressive strength on the laminates previously subjected to oxidizing and high thermal environments. Thus, this paper examines the effect of thermal cycling and isothermal aging conditions (temperatures and duration times) on the mechanical results and attempts to explain the role of the overall aging process.