Folding properties of carbon fiber triaxial woven fabric/epoxy resin composites

Carbon fiber triaxial woven fabric/epoxy resin (TWF/EP) composite was prepared by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method, in which carbon fiber TWF was reinforced material, and epoxy resin was matrix. Referring to the metallic materials-sheet and strip-test method for bending and folding properties, the bending experiment of TWF/EP was carried out to explore its bending performance, and the damage morphology and damage mechanism were analyzed. The results show that the folding strength and modulus of TWF/EP composites have a significant positive correlation with the fiber bundle specification and a negative correlation with the angle. In the range of 0°-30°, the folding properties of TWF/EP composites change slightly and show quasi-isotropy. The mechanical response of TWF/EP composites is brittle fracture, and the failure mode can be divided into complete fracture and incomplete fracture. The folding fracture mechanisms are mainly pure shear failure, compression-shear coupling failure and tenso-shear coupling failure.