Master Curves of Residual Creep and Fatigue Strengths for Damaged CFRP Composites

This article proposes a new concept of residual strength master curves for damaged carbon fiber-reinforced plastic ( CFRP) after various spectral creep and fatigue loadings by using master curves for pristine CFRP, based on an accelerated testing methodology (ATM) and a statistical linear cumulative damage (SLCD) rule. Three-point bending fatigue tests for plain-woven CFRP composites were carried out under various cyclic loadings with both constant and variable amplitudes and frequencies. It was shown from the viewpoint of statistics that the SLCD rule can be applicable to the prediction of the flexural fatigue life of these CFRP composites under variable amplitudes and frequencies of cyclic loading. A method to construct the master curve of residual strengths for damaged CFRP from the master curves of creep and fatigue strengths for pristine materials was introduced.