title: Characterisation of the mechanical and fracture properties of a uni-weave carbon fibre/epoxy non-crimp fabric composite.
abstract: A complete database of the mechanical properties of an epoxy polymer reinforced with uni-weave carbon fibre non-crimp fabric (NCF) is established. In-plane and through-the-thickness tests were performed on unidirectional laminates under normal loading and shear loading. The response under cyclic shear loading was also measured. The material has been characterised in terms of stiffness, strength, and failure features for the different loading cases. The critical energy release rates associated with different failure modes in the material were measured from interlaminar and translaminar fracture toughness tests. The stress-strain data of the tensile, compressive, and shear test specimens are included. The load-deflection data for all fracture toughness tests are also included. The database can be used in the development and validation of analytical and numerical models of fibre reinforced plastics (FRPs), in particular FRPs with NCF reinforcements.
authors.affiliation: Swerea SICOMP, P.O. Box 104, 431 22 Mölndal, Sweden; Division of Material and Computational Mechanics, Department of Applied Mechanics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bru
authors.affiliation: Swerea SICOMP, P.O. Box 104, 431 22 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hellström
authors.affiliation: Swerea SICOMP, P.O. Box 104, 431 22 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutkin
authors.affiliation: Swerea SICOMP, P.O. Box 104, 431 22 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramantani
authors.affiliation: Volvo Group Trucks Technology, Department 26547, AB2V, 405 08 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peterson
keywords: Avg, average; CC, compact compression; CFRP, carbon fibre reinforced plastic; CNC, computer numerical control; CT, compact tension; CV, coefficient of variation; Carbon fibre; DCB, double cantilever beam; DIC, digital image correlation; ENF, end notched flexure; FRP, fibre reinforced plastic; FVF, fibre volume fraction; Fracture toughness; MMB, mixed-mode bending; Mechanical properties; Mechanical testing; NCF, non-crimp fabric; NL, nonlinearity method; Non-crimp fabric; Peak, maximum peak method; Polymer matrix composite; R-curve, crack resistance curves; RTM, resin transfer moulding; Stress/strain curve; TT, through-the-thickness; VI, vacuum infusion; VO, visual observation method