Tensile properties of epoxy/carbon fiber laminates with different volume fractions for mathematical modelling

最近，复合材料在汽车和航空工业中的使用有所增加。一些客机在其结构中具有至少50%的复合材料。例如，在热源（如飞机发动机）附近使用的复合材料的机械性能可能受到长期热氧化（长期高温行为）老化现象的负面影响。这导致复合材料强度和刚度随时间退化。对复合材料长期热氧化老化的实验研究既耗时又昂贵，以至于测试可以在200 °C下运行10，000小时或更长时间。另一种方法是使用数学模型来预测复合材料的氧化老化。然而，输入到模型中的数据需要特定的环氧树脂/碳纤维组合，而这些组合无法在商业上购买。本研究的目的将是制造环氧/碳纤维复合材料，并评估其拉伸力学性能。这项由NSERC联盟催化剂资助的研究将用于实验验证预测复合材料长期热氧化老化的稳健模型。许多在高温下使用复合材料的行业将从这项研究中受益。例如，汽车内部复合材料部件在炎热的夏季以及汽车发动机和排气管附近的部件可能会达到高温。

Recently, there has been an increase in the use of composite materials in the automotive and aviation industries. Some passenger aircraft possess at least 50% composites in their structure. Composite materials used in the vicinity of heat sources such as aircraft engines, for example, could have their mechanical properties negatively affected from long-term thermo-oxidative (long-term elevated temperature behavior) aging phenomenon. This results in composite strength and stiffness degradations over time. Experimental study on long-term thermo-oxidative aging of composite materials is time consuming and expensive such that tests can be run at 200 °C for 10,000 hours or more. An alternative is to use a mathematical model to predict oxidative aging in composites. However, the data inputted into the model requires specific epoxy resin/carbon fiber combinations which cannot be purchased commercially. The objective of this study will be to manufacture epoxy/carbon fiber composite materials and evaluate their tensile mechanical properties. The research supported by this NSERC Alliance Catalyst Grant will be used to experimentally validate a robust model for predicting long-term thermo-oxidative aging in composites. Many industries where composites are used at elevated temperatures will benefit from this research. For example, interior automotive composite parts can reach elevated temperatures on hot summer days as well as as components near automotive engines and exhaust ducts.