Mixed-mode IIII Interlaminar Fracture of CFIPEI Composite Material

Failures in composite materials occur mainly due to inierlamuuir fracture, also called delamination; between laminates. This indicates that characicrizinq iuterlamituir [raciure toughness is the most effective factor in the [ro.cture of composite materials. This shtdy reports inuestiqaiion. on mixed-mode interlaminar [raciurc behaviour ui woven carbon .fibrelpolyetherimide (CFIPEI) thermoplastic composite material based on experimentol and numerical analyses. Experinienis 11JC1 e conducted using the special test loading device. By 1H1ryiny the loading anyle.o [rotn (}() to 9(1 . VUTe mode-1, pure mode-Il and a widcmnge of mixed-triode data WCTf obtained experimentally. Usitu; the finite-element results, geometrical [actors 1IIe1 e applied to the specimen. Based on e:r:pe1 imentally measured critical loads, mixed-mode iiiterlaminar [raciure toughness fOT the composite under consideration deterttiitied. The [racture surfaces wen: examined by scanninq electron rnicroscopu to gain insight into the failure responses.