Mechanical properties of uniaxial carbon fibre reinforced epoxy resin composite systems.

The aim of this work is to investigate the mechanical properties of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy resins and some of the factors which affect these properties. Different fibre/resin systems are examined and the properties investigated are the flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength, fatigue behaviour and fracture toughness. In order to use the composites safely and efficiently it is important to understand the variables which affect the mechanical properties of the material and the failure mechanisms which are likely to occur under a given set of circumstances. In some cases the results of the experiments must be treated with caution, e.g, short beam interlaminar shear strength ILSS tests, because the results are difficult to interpret in terms of the fracture mode observed. The interpretation of the results of the tests and their significance in terms of the improvement of composite properties are discussed