Fractographical analysis on the mode II delamination in woven carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Mode II delamination phenomena of woven fabric carbon/epoxy composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. End notch flexural (ENF) test was used to examine the mode II delamination. Woven fabric composites showed two peculiar crack propagation patterns due to the complexity of woven geometry. In warp yarn region, crack propagated with forming a shear band and breaking the fiber/matrix interface. In fill yarn region, however, no shear band was observed. Considering these crack patterns, matrix shear property and fiber/matrix interfacial strength played an important role in enhancing the delamination properties of woven fabric carbon/epoxy composites. Due to the woven geometry, matrix rich positions, which are interstitial and undulated region, were formed in woven carbon/epoxy composite. In these regions, matrix fracture and complex crack path were mainly observed. (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.