CHARACTERIZATION OF INTERLAMINAR FRACTURE-BEHAVIOR OF WOVEN FABRIC REINFORCED POLYMERIC COMPOSITES

An experimental study was conducted to characterize the interlaminar f racture behaviour of 2-D woven fabric reinforced epoxy composites unde r mode I loading using double cantilever beam tests. A large displacem ent, small strain non-linear beam model was used to calculate the inte rlaminar fracture toughness. The fabrics used included fiberglass and Kevlar woven structures with different weave patterns. An attempt was made to enhance the composite interlaminar toughness by adding differe nt types of micro-fibres into the matrix. Toughening mechanisms of the composites were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. It was f ound that the weave patterns of fabrics exhibited a strong influence o n the interlaminar fracture behaviour, and that the addition of the mi crofibres to the epoxy matrix could improve the interlaminar fracture toughness significantly.