Fundamentals and applications of micro Raman spectroscopy to strain measurements in fibre reinforced composites

Abstract

AbstractMicro Raman spectroscopy (MRS) can be used to measure strain in crystalline and semicrystalline materials with urn scale spatial resolution. It has been employed as a tool for measuring micromechanical behaviour in composites, and has contributed significantly to understanding of composite behaviour. An overview of the fundamentals of Raman spectroscopy and strain measurements using Raman spectroscopy as well as the instrumentation required is given. Studies using MRS to gain insight into the structure, elastic moduli, and failure modes of several types of fibres are presented. The micromechanical behaviour of single filament model composites is examined in detail including: residual stresses caused by processing; the stress transfer behaviour from the matrix to the fibre during loading; and the interfacial behaviour as a function of tensile and compressive loading, interface surface treatment, and environmental exposure. Finally, recent studies using MRS to study the fibre-fibre interaction and hence the fracture characteristics of full composites are discussed.