Fractographic study of damage mechanisms in fiber reinforced polymer composites submitted to uniaxial compression

After the advances of microscopic techniques, the literature shows an increasing number of fractographic studies of fiber reinforced polymer composites. However, the fractographic aspects of compressive failures remain slightly explored and poorly enlightened. In this context, the purpose of this work is to present some of the main mechanisms responsible for the fracture energy absorption in the case of fiber reinforced polymer composites submitted to compressive loads. To do so, this study used an extensive literature review in addition to fractographic studies of textile carbon fiber/epoxy composite laminates, which were manufactured using prepreg scraps from the manufacturing waste of aeronautical industry. It was possible to identify the main damage mechanisms which occur in compressive failures of fiber reinforced polymer composites, namely microcracking, crack bridging, protrusions (not commonly reported in the literature) and fiber microbuckling leading to kink-band formation. Thus, we intend to contribute to a better understanding of the compressive behavior of polymer composites as well as of the resulting fractographic aspects.