Transverse cracking of M40J/PMR-II-50 composites under thermal-mechanical loading: Part II - Experiment and analytical investigation Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • In this study, the effects of thermal cycling combined with mechanical loading on the microcracking of M40J/PMR-II-50 are investigated. Characterization of the failure mechanisms are conducted based on the critical parameters which cause composite microcracking, as presented in Part I. Based on the test results in Part I, the tests with intermediate in-plane lamina strain (0.1750.350%) and an increased number of thermal cycles are added. Elevated temperature thermal cycling (23250C) is also added to the original test plan to investigate the thermal cycling temperature amplitude effect on microcracking of the composites. Observations indicate that the elevated temperature exposure under mechanical loads causes an easy fiber/matrix debonding. Subsequent exposure to cryogenic temperatures results in fiber/matrix debonding due to the high thermal stresses associated with fiber/ matrix thermal expansion mismatch. Crack propagation under cryogenic exposures is shown to be dominant with an increasing number of thermal cycles, especially when combined with high temperature exposure associated with high amplitude of cyclic thermal stresses.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

author list (cited authors)

  • Ju, J., Morgan, R. J., Creasy, T. S., & Shin, E. E.

citation count

  • 7

complete list of authors

  • Ju, Jaehyung||Morgan, Roger J||Creasy, Terry S||Shin, E Eugene

publication date

  • May 2007