Experimental investigation of high strain-rate, large-scale crack bridging behaviour of z-pin reinforced tapered laminates

Cochrane, A.D. and Serra, J. and Lander, J.K. and Böhm, H. and Wollmann, T. and Hornig, A. and Gude, M. and Partridge, I.K. and Hallett, S.R. (2022) Experimental investigation of high strain-rate, large-scale crack bridging behaviour of z-pin reinforced tapered laminates. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 155. 106825. ISSN 1359-835X (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2022.106825)

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Abstract

Significant research exists on small-scale, quasi-static failure behaviour of Z-pinned composite laminates. However, little work has been conducted on large-scale, high strain-rate behaviour of Z-pinned composites at structural level. Small-scale testing is often at an insufficient scale to invoke the full crack bridging effects of the Z-pins. Full-scale testing on real components involves large length scales, complex geometries and resulting failure mechanisms that make it difficult to identify the specific effect of Z-pins on the component failure behaviour. A novel cantilever soft body impact test has been developed which is of sufficient scale to invoke large-scale delamination, such that behaviour in Z-pin arrays at high strain-rates can be studied. Laminates containing Z-pin arrays were subjected to soft-body gelatine impact in high-speed light gas-gun tests. Detailed fractographic investigation was carried out to investigate the dynamic failure behaviour of Z-pins at the microscopic scale.

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