Cj. Creighton et al., A multiple field image analysis procedure for characterisation of fibre alignment in composites, COMPOS P A, 32(2), 2001, pp. 221-229
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Material Science & Engineering
Journal title
COMPOSITES PART A-APPLIED SCIENCE AND MANUFACTURING
A novel method is presented for the characterisation of fibre misalignment
in composite specimens. The method is based on analysis of low magnificatio
n images in which the local fibre direction can be inferred from the orient
ation of elongated features in the image. Specimen preparation procedures a
nd the image analysis algorithm employed are presented and their usage is i
llustrated by application to two types of carbon fibre composite, one of wh
ich showed a high degree of alignment while the other exhibited noticeable
fibre waviness. Factors affecting the choice of certain image analysis para
meters are briefly explored. Comparisons are presented with results obtaine
d using conventional sectioning, followed by measurement of the aspect rati
os exhibited by individual fibres. It is shown that the proposed method is
robust, sensitive and experimentally convenient. It is particularly well su
ited to the characterisation of specimens exhibiting significant variations
in fibre alignment direction over large distances, i.e. pronounced fibre w
aviness, and the potential utility of such measurements for the prediction
of compressive strength is highlighted. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All
rights reserved.