A novel bio-inspired microstructure for improved compressive performance of multidirectional CFRP laminates
Torquato Garulli, Tomas J. Katafiasz, Emile S. Greenhalgh, S.T. Pinho
Abstract
In this work, we design, manufacture, test and discuss the first bio-inspired microstructural concept to enhance longitudinal compressive performance of multidirectional (MD) Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates. To do so, we take inspiration from biologically occurring layered materials; one remarkable example being the anchoring spicula of the deep-sea glass sponge Monoraphis chuni. We designed numerically various concepts and then devised a strategy to reproduce, in a MD CFRP laminate, the characteristic alternation of stiff and soft regions observed in this material, followed by a bespoke procedure to manufacture the laminate. We evaluated their performances by means of small-scale notched compression tests and direct comparison with an industrially relevant baseline laminate. Our results show that the proposed concept led to a statistically significant increase in the failure load and in the average ligament specific stress at failure. Furthermore, the designed microstructure showed potential to delay damage initiation from a stress concentration and to arrest damage propagation. We conclude that the presented microstructural concept is potentially of great value for the design of lightweight structures undergoing compression loading.