Mechanical response and damage formation in short-fibre reinforced polycarbonate from low to high strain rates
Peihao Song, David J. Chapman, Aaron Graham, Georgios Kalimeris, Clive R. Siviour
Abstract
Polycarbonate composites are widely used in applications subjected to compression loading at varying strain rates, benefiting from their ability to withstand large deformations due to the ductile nature of polycarbonate. However, the deformation and failure mechanisms, and the effects of fibre orientation, during large strain deformation are poorly understood. This study examines the rate-dependent properties of 20 wt% short glass fibre reinforced polycarbonate loaded in different orientations relative to the fibre flow and at strain rates from 0.01 to 2350 s −1 . High-speed optical and infrared imaging are used to aid interpretation of the deformation and failure arising from the formation of adiabatic shear bands. Novel experimental approaches are used to qualify and quantify the deformation mechanism: load-reload tests, final strain-controlled split Hopkinson bar experiments with ex-situ tomography. These are supported by dynamic in-situ X-ray measurements published previously. These comprehensive datasets establish a deep understanding of the constitutive behaviour of this ductile composite material that will enhance its use in a wide range of applications.