INSTRUMENTED IMPACT EVALUATION OF A TOUGHENED CARBON-FIBER EPOXY COMPOSITE

Instrumented impact testing and analysis were performed on an interlaminar-toughened carbon fiber epoxy composite (Toray 3900-2/T800H) and a conventional (untoughened) epoxy composite (Fiberite 934/T300). Severity of impact was varied by using a wide range of impact energy. The effect of difference in the tup of the impact instrument was discussed. The residual compressive strengths after compact (CAI's) were measured by using a universal mechanical tester. The impact damage and delamination resistance of the toughened and conventional composites were quantitatively compared. At the same impact energy, the extent of damage was much less severe and the CAI was higher for the toughened composite. Relationships between the CAI's, the state of impact damage, and impact energy were investigated. Impact damage mechanisms for these two composites were not exactly the same. The impact damage of the conventional composite exhibited much greater extents of delamination. By contrast, interlaminar delamination in the toughened composite was found to be significantly suppressed, and the impact damage was more dominated by controlled matrix cracking/fiber damage, instead of catastrophic delamination. As a result, the CAI's of the toughened composite exhibited a monotonous decrease with increase in the impact energy and in the Linear dimension of extents of damage.