Damage Development During Pin Loading Of A Hole In A Quasi-Isotropic Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composite*

ABSTRACT: Damage development and progression was monitored by acoustic emission during pin loading of a hole in a quasi-isotropic Hexcel F593/T300 W2G 190 carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composite. Analysis of the acoustic emissions showed that failure was initiated by fibre matrix debonding, followed by fibre fracture, and subsequent matrix cracking. Sections taken through the specimens at varying intervals between the initial acoustic emission and final catastrophic failure confirmed this sequence of events. Good agreement was obtained between the load at the onset of failure and that predicted by finite element modelling.