Damage growth in carbon fibre–PEEK unidirectional composites under compression

The mode of compressive damage growth in unidirectional PEEK composites is investigated. A detailed systematic study of the nature of damage evolution is presented and the micromechanical basis for treating compressive damage as a crack-like feature is explained. Experimental and theoretical findings conclude that there is a strong scientific basis for treating compressive damage growth in fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites as a bridged mode I crack in compression. A large-scale crack bridging model has been successful in predicting the steady-state damage propagation stress as a function of damage growth in notched composites.