Experimental testing and micromechanical modelling of unidirectional CFRP composite laminae under multiaxial loading conditions

Wan, Lei; Zhang, Ka; Chen, Jiayun; Li, Aonan; Wu, Jiang; Yang, Dongmin

Abstract

This paper presents comprehensive experimental testing and numerical modelling of the failure behaviours of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced polymer (UD-CFRP) composite laminae under multiaxial loading conditions. A novel modified Arcan test rig with a rotational clamp was developed to enable multiple stress combinations with out-of-plane stresses in UD laminae on a traditional laboratory-based uniaxial test machine. The test rig was verified by uniaxial tension and validated by off-axis tension. UD CFRP laminae were tested for the first time under five stress combinations using the test rig, with results cross-validated against a high-fidelity representative volume element (RVE)-based 3D micromechanical finite element model. Failure strength envelope and damage mechanisms demonstrate the applicability of the test rig for composite failure under multiaxial loading conditions with a broad spectrum of stress combinations.

Citation

Wan, L., Zhang, K., Chen, J., Li, A., Wu, J., & Yang, D. (2025). Experimental testing and micromechanical modelling of unidirectional CFRP composite laminae under multiaxial loading conditions. Composite Structures, 357, Article 118889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2025.118889

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 22, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Feb 5, 2025
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 14, 2025
• Journal: Composite Structures
• Print ISSN: 0263-8223
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-1085
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 357
• Article Number: 118889
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2025.118889
• Keywords: Multiaxial loading; CFRPs; Finite element modelling; Failure strength; RVE
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/5129267