Realising damage-tolerant nacre-inspired CFRP

Inthiswork,anacre-inspiredCarbonFibreReinforcedPolymer(CFRP)compositeis designed,synthesisedandtested. Analyticalandnumericalmodelsareusedtodesign a tiled micro-structure, mimicking the staggered arrangement of ceramic platelets in nacreandexploitinggeometricalinterlocksforcrackdeflectionanddamagediffusion. The designed pattern of tiles is then laser-engraved in the laminate plies. In order to increase the damage-spreading capability of the material, a thin layer of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is film-cast on the interlaminar region, both as a continuous film and as a pattern of fractal-shaped patches. Three-point bending tests show how the nacre-like micro-structure succeeds in deflecting cracks, with damage diffusion being significantly improved by the addition of PLA at the interface between tiles. It is observed that a texture of discontinuous fractal-shaped PLA patches can increase damage diffusion, by promoting the unlocking of tiles whilst preserving the interface strength