DefinePK

Abstract

In this article, an investigation on bi-directional carbon fiber composite INDCARF manufactured in India - to study remaining life assessment-RLA- of the composites to enable one to design suitably. But since composites are made of different materials bonded and reinforced with fibres, they develop distress in the form of cracking and damage while in service and there is a need to assess their performance in terms of strength and stiffness for the remaining portion of their life. The cracking/damage under different conditions is simulated in the form of hair-line cracks, introduced on the surface of the coupons used for testing. Based on coupon test results, analytical studies using non-linear finite element model were carried out to assess the influence of different characteristics of damage on failure and remaining life. The cracking parameters were identified as initiation, spread and inelastic material behavior using elastic-plastic material model. The samples were evaluated by tensile tests according to the ASTM D3039.