Pseudo-ductility of Unidirectional Thin Ply Hybrid Composites in Longitudinal Compression

Abstract

The compression response of unidirectional thin-ply carbon (C) standard thickness S-glass (SG) hybrid composites is presented. Gradual failure up to high strain has been demonstrated for [SG1/(C1/SG1)17] and [SG1/(C2/SG1)17] hybrid configurations. The favourable pseudo-ductile behaviour is due to progressive fragmentation and dispersed delamination of the thin ply carbon/epoxy layers. For the [SG1/(C3/SG1)17] configuration, sudden failure occurs at a lower strain, but still higher than the compression failure strain of the carbon fibres calculated from the manufacturer’s data sheet. The energy release rate concept can be used to qualitatively explain the behaviour of the different thickness hybrid laminates under compression.