Effect of thin-ply on damage behaviour of continuous and discontinuous carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics subjected to simulated lightning strike

This study experimentally investigates the damage behaviour of a quasi-isotropic (QI) laminate of carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics and chopped carbon fibre tape reinforced thermoplastics (CTT) under lightning strikes. Simulated lightning strike tests were performed and the damage was evaluated using a high-speed camera, ultrasonic testing, and optical microscopy of cross-sectioned samples. The shape of the vaporized resin and projected damage area resulting from the joule heating was dependent on the electrical anisotropy of composite surfaces; the shape of the vaporized resin was circular for QI laminate with thinner prepreg and CTT materials. In addition, the damage could be categorized into three modes: fibre sublimation, resin vaporization, and delamination. Finally, the application of thin-ply prepreg suppressed the projected damage area and the removal of the composite surface due to fibre sublimation and resin vaporization in both samples. Our findings clearly demonstrate the reduction of lightning damage when using thin-ply prepreg.