IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ...I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...III
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...IV
LIST OF FIGURES ...VIII
LIST OF TABLES ...XI
Chapter 1
Introduction
− 1.1 Composite Materials ...1
− 1.2 Laminar Composites ...2
− 1.3 Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Composites ...3
− 1.4 Impact Damage: Delamination of Composites ...4
− 1.5 Through-the-Thickness Reinforcement (TTR): Z-Pinning ...5
− 1.6 Thesis Topic ...5
Chapter 2
Literature Review
− 2.1 Delamination ...7− 2.1.1 Strength of Material Approach ...9
V
− 2.2 Impact ...14
− 2.2.1 Definition of Low / High Velocity Impact ...16
− 2.2.2 Failure Modes in Low Velocity Impact ...17
− 2.2.3 Post Impact Residual Strength ...18
− 2.2.4 Influence of Different Parameters on the Impact Damage ...19
− 2.3 Through-the Thickness Reinforcement (TTR) ...22
− 2.3.1 Stitching ...23
− 2.3.2 Tufting ...24
− 2.3.3 Z-Pinning ...25
− 2.3.3.1 Z-Fibres ...26
− 2.3.3.2 Preform ...26
− 2.3.3.3 Insertion of the Pins in the Laminate ...28
− 2.4 Previous Work on Z-Pinned Laminates ...31
Chapter 3
Manufacturing Methods
− 3.1 Materials ... ...34 − 3.1.1 G0703 ...34 − 3.1.2 914 Resin ...34 − 3.1.3 Structil Epoxy EA 9685 ...35 − 3.1.4 T300/BMI Rodstock ...35 − 3.1.5 Support Foam ...35 − 3.1.6 Base Foam ...35 − 3.2 Preform Manufacturing ...36 − 3.2.1 Preform Manufacture ...36 − 3.2.2 Pin Insertion ...37 − 3.3 I-Section Manufacturing ...38 − 3.3.1 Prepreg Cutting ...38VI − 3.3.2 Lay up ...39 − 3.4 Z-Pinning ...41 − 3.4.1 Preparation ...41 − 3.4.2 Insertion ...43 − 3.5 Curing ...44
− 3.6 I-Joints Cutting & Post-Curing ...46
− 3.7 Test Fixture ...46
Chapter 4
Testing Methods
− 4.1 Tension ...48 − 4.2 Impact ...49Chapter 5
Results and Discussion
− 5.1 Tests Carried out ...53− 5.2 Reinforcement Content Verification ...54
− 5.3 Control Tests ...55
− 5.4 Overlap Lenght Tests ...56
− 5.5 Reinforced Overlap Lenght Tests ...58
− 5.6 Impacted I-Section Tests ...60
− 5.7 Analysis of Results ...61
− 5.7.1 Pinning Density Verification ...61
− 5.7.2 Control Tests Analysis ...62
− 5.7.3 Overlap Length Analysis ...62
− 5.7.4 Reinforced Overlap Length Analysis ...63
− 5.7.5 Impacted I-Section Analyses ...66
VII