UHMWPE fibre-based composites : prestress-induced enhancement of impact properties

Fazal, Adnan; Fancey, Kevin

Abstract

The impact properties of continuous unidirectional UHMWPE fibre-reinforced polyester resin composites have been investigated, to elucidate the effects of prestress on energy absorption characteristics. Prestress within composite samples was produced by subjecting the UHMWPE fibres to a creep load, which was then released prior to moulding. From Charpy impact tests, these viscoelastically prestressed samples absorbed ~20% more energy than their control (unstressed) counterparts, with some batches reaching 30-40%. Generally, whether prestress is created through elastic or viscoelastic means, fibre-matrix debonding is known to be a major energy absorption mechanism in this type of composite, but this was not evident in the current study. Instead, evidence of debonding at the skin-core interface within the UHMWPE fibres was found, the skin regions possessing lower stiffness and longer term viscoelastic activity. Skin-core debonding appears to have a significant energy absorbing role within the prestressed samples and we believe it is a previously unrecognised mechanism.

Citation

Fazal, A., & Fancey, K. (2014). UHMWPE fibre-based composites : prestress-induced enhancement of impact properties. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 66, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.04.031

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 28, 2014
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2014
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Deposit Date: Sep 4, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Composites part B : engineering
• Print ISSN: 1359-8368
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 66
• Pages: 1-6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.04.031
• Keywords: Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs), Impact behaviour, Mechanical testing, Viscoelasticity
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/378754
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359836814001875
• Additional Information: Author's accepted manuscript of article published in: Composites part B : engineering, 2014, v.66