Strain rate effects on tensile failure of 3-D angle-interlock woven carbon fabric

This paper reports the tensile behaviors of 3-D angle-interlock woven carbon fabric (3DAWF) under high strain rate tension from experimental and finite element analyses (FEA). As the first attempt in experimental, the tensile behaviors of the 3DAWFs were tested with a split Hopkinson tension bar (SHTB) apparatus at the strain rate up to 2040 s−1. The tensile stress strain curves were obtained and the tensile failure morphologies were photographed. It was found that the tensile behaviors of the 3DAWF are sensitive to the strain rate. Both the failure stress and failure strain increase with the strain rate. In FEA, a microstructure geometrical model was established to find the failure mechanisms of the 3DAWF under high strain rate tension. From the calculated tensile stress strain curves, failure morphologies and stress wave propagation in the 3DAWF model, it was found that there are different failure morphologies at the different layers in the 3DAWF. The stress wave amplitude in the weft yarns is greater than that in the warp yarns. The reflections of the stress waves lead to the irregular failure morphologies under high strain tension.