EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF 3D 6-DIRECTIONAL BRAIDED COMPOSITES

The main mechanical properties of the 3D 6-directional braided composites were obtained by tensile, compressive, in-plane shear, and compressive after impact experiments. The bar specimens with two types of holes, mechanical circular hole or braided circular hole, were used for tensile and compressive tests. The damage modes and failure mechanism of the material under tensile, compressive and shearing loads were experimentally studied. The influence of the two types of holes (mechanical hole and braided hole) on the tensile and compressive mechanical properties was analyzed. The effect of impact on the compressive mechanical properties was also studied. The pre-sent work establishes a foundation for the predictions of stiffness and strength of the 3D 6-directional braided composites.