Investigation of strain rate effects on the irreversible and damageable behavior of carbon fiber reinforced polymers under dynamic loading

This study explores the effects of strain rate on the irreversible deformation and damage evolution in carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) during dynamic tensile loading. Experiments conducted on T700/M21 CFRP specimens at varying strain rates (10-4 to 1 m.s-1) indicate that macroscopic irreversible deformation is invariant with strain rate, while viscoelasticity significantly influences the material's nonlinear behavior. By differentiating between reversible and irreversible strains, we find that damage accumulation does not exhibit a clear strain rate dependency, contrary to some existing literature. This work emphasizes the need for advanced analysis techniques beyond macroscopic observations to fully understand the complex, rate-dependent mechanisms governing CFRP behavior under dynamic conditions.