Failure mode transition in transverse tensile of UD-CFRP under various temperatures and strain rates

In the present study, strain-rate dependence and temperature dependence of failure mode are numerically simulated by finite element analyses. In the analyses, interface failure and matrix failure are expressed by cohesive zone modeling and continuum damage mechanics, respectively. It is assumed that the damage initiates dependently of strain rate and temperature, and cohesive zone modeling is assumed to be temperature-and time-independent. In the continuum damage mechanics, Christensen's failure criterion of multi-Axial stress states for each strain rate are applied into the resin properties. Interfacial strength which is obtained by microbond test is introduced into cohesive zone modeling. When temperature is high and/or strain rate is low, matrix crack occurs very often and the failure mode is matrix-failuredominant mode. On the other hand, when temperature is low and/or strain rate is high, interface crack significant, i.e. failure mode becomes interface-crack-dominant mode.