Damage progression analysis of spread carbon fiber/epoxy laminates containing microcapsules

Abstract

Three-dimensional finite element analysis was performed using a representative volume element (RVE) model to investigate damage progression behavior of spread carbon fiber (SCF)/epoxy (EP) laminates containing microcapsules. The failure criteria were used to predict the damage distributions in the RVE model of the laminates. Two RVE models with different dispersion state of microcapsules were generated. The well-dispersion model considers well distributed microcapsules in the SCF/EP laminates and the aggregation model presents aggregation of microcapsules in the interlayer of the SCF/EP laminates. The results indicated that the damage progression behavior of SCF/EP laminates containing microcapsules are influenced by the dispersion state of microcapsules.