Experimental analysis of the effects of wrinkles in the radius of curvature of L-shaped carbon-epoxy specimens on unfolding failure

Abstract

An experimental study has been carried out to describe the evolution of the failure load relative to the maximum misalignment angle of curved carbon-epoxy laminates with out-of-plane wrinkle defects for a large range of misalignments. L-angle specimens with different levels of fibre wrinkling were manufactured and tested in fourpoint bending tests. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and infrared thermography were used to monitor the tests. They allowed the stress concentrations induced by the wrinkles to be identified, together with their influences on the failure load of the sample. In most cases, increases in wrinkling levels led to decreases in failure loads.