Strength and failure behavior of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum laminates under flexural loading

Abstract

The current work investigates the influences of different surface modifications on the flexural characteristics of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum (AA2024-T3) laminates fabricated at 3/2 sequence. Among all types of surface modifications, mechanical abrasion by 220-grit paper shows highest flexural strength. The flexural load of Al/0°/Al/0°/Al configuration is about 19% higher in comparison with mechanical abrasion (220-grit paper) with chemical treatment due to higher interfacial strength. However, corrosion resistance is improved about 30 times in the later modification. In-situ imaging reveals that failure of Al/0°/Al/0°/Al laminates initiates by micro-buckling of carbon fiber whereas matrix cracking initiates the failure in Al/90°/Al/90°/Al laminates.