Abstract
CFRP is a composite with lightweight, high stiffness, and high strength, however it behaves in a brittle manner with localized fracture. In the current study, helicoidally laminated CFRP specimens replicated after a biological body are examined in flexure for the purpose of mitigating a brittle behavior. Four kinds of CFRP specimens were fabricated by stacking unidirectional prepregs with constant fiber angle difference between adjacent laminas. Three-point and four-point flexural tests were conducted, and damage and fracture processes were observed closely. Compared to a cross-ply laminate CFRP specimen, helicoidally laminated CFRP specimens show the increased residual strength after the first peak, and their postpeak energy absorption ratio to prepeak is highly improved. Due to the unique damage processes of helicoidally laminated CFRP specimens, it is found that localized fracture is mitigated with reduced damage depth.
