Hygrothermal Aging Effects on the Micromechanisms of Crack Extension in Glass Fibre and Carbon Fibre Composites

摘要

Hygrothermal aging effects and the micromechanisms of crack extension in glass fibre and carbon fibre composites are described. A new collection of failure data based on direct observation of fibres debonding, breaking and pulling out of a cracked epoxy matrix is presented. The data are summarised in cumulative probability diagrams which provide a convenient means for the comparison of fracture behaviour of composite systems. These diagrams also demonstrate the effects of changes in environment and time in a given experiment in a manner useful for the failure analysis of a fibrous composite. (Author)