In Situ Testing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) are used in aerospace, automobile racing, wind energy, sports equipment, and many other areas in which safety is critical. Fundamental to the engineering of safe CFRP products is the understanding CFRP failure in all modes and the development of mathematical models that correctly predict failure. The goals of this research project were to develop a machine and method to perform in situ testing of a CFRP under a Zeiss AX10 optical microscope. Achieving these goals will provide the rare opportunity to view the failure of a CFRP material at a micro structural level in a slow motion video. This will help validate the current failure models and provide new insight into the effects of the material's inherent variability and variations in the manufacturing process on the material properties.