The Effect of Strain Rate on the Compressive Stress-Strain Properties of PEEK and Epoxy Carbon Fibre Composites

摘要

The dynamic compressive behaviour of two AS4 carbon fibre composite systems has been studied at room temperature at strain rates from about 10-3 s-1 103 s-1. One system (APC2) had a thermoplastic PEEK matrix, while the other system (EC) had a thermoset epoxy resin matrix. Transverse unidirectional and transverse cross-ply fibre configurations were used for each system. Both configurations showed greater stiffness, linearity and strength at high rates than at low rates, but the high rate behaviour of the APC2 was more complex than that of the EC. The measured Young's modulus values were in good agreement with theoretical predictions.