Dynamic fracture in carbon-fibre composites: Air-blast loading

In this study a response of a 2x2 twill weave T300 carbon fibre/epoxy composite flat plate specimen resultant air blast dynamic response observed in is examined, using a combination of non-invasive analysis techniques. The study investigates deformation and damage following air blasts with incident pressures of 0.4 MPa, 0.6 MPa and 0.8 MPa, and wave speeds between 650m/s and 950m/s. Digital image correlation was employed to obtain displacement data from the rear surfaces of the specimens during each experiment. 3D x-ray tomography was used to visualize the resultant internal damage within the samples. It was shown that the global deformation and transitions in curvature of each specimen appear to be similar with varying out-of-plane displacements. Damage was observed to propagate from the rear surface of the specimens through to the front surface as the air blast magnitude increased.