Abstract
In this paper a new method which measures fiber orientation in CFRP laminates from X-ray CT images is proposed. In the proposed method, fiber orientation is analyzed by applying digital image correlation method (DIC) to the acquired tomographic images. By using DIC, brightness pattern, which results from radiodensity difference between fiber and resin, is compared between two different planes in thickness direction. Then three dimensional displacement of brightness pattern, which indicates fiber orientation, can be measured. In this study, we applied the proposed method to a quasi-isotropic CFRP laminate. After X-ray CT imaging, the sample was sectioned and polished. Fiber orientation was then experimentally measured by using a microscope. Fiber orientation calculated by the proposed method agrees very well with experimentally measured one, and the validity of the proposed method was demonstrated. Additionally, we applied the proposed method to a plane-woven CFRP laminate. The result revealed that the invalid fiber orientation may be calculated for the fiber orientation is parallel to the plane of CT image, or for the fiber orientation is calculated using the pattern around the outer edge of CT images.
