Comparative studies of structure property relationship between glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy 3D woven composites

This paper investigated the effect of defined weave parameters in textiles on the mechanical properties such as tension, compression, and Izod impact energy in 3D layer-to layer glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy woven composites. The specimens with the superior mechanical properties in both carbon and glass 3D woven composites were then tested to determine its quasi-static crash performance with a view to the end application in the automotive industry. The 3D woven preforms, manufactured using a Jacquard loom at Ulster University, were fabricated in two different weft densities: 4 & 16 wefts/cm with a constant warp density of 12 warps/cm. It was observed that changing the fibre content in the weft direction not only increased its mechanical properties in that direction but also significantly improved its performance in the warp direction (although the fibre content remains constant in the warp direction). This was thought to be result of a combination of several factors- Vf, tow misalignment, crimp, binding points/ unit cell and size/distribution of resin rich areas. This study has helped deriving a relationship between the fundamental defined weave parameters, mechanical properties and failure mechanisms in the 3D layer-to-layer warp interlock carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy composites.