Abstract:

Carbon fiber composites have been successfully applied in the field of prostheses. However, they are susceptible to the impact loading, which will lead to a significant reduction in the residual strength of composites. Experiment studies on impact damage and residual compressive strength have been done for a newly carbon fiber composites prosthetic foot. The influence of layer parameter and impact energy on the impact damage and residual strength of carbon fiber composites prosthetic foot are analyzed. Results show that, layer parameter has significant influence on the impact damage of U-type component of carbon fiber composites prosthetic foot. With the increasement of 0° layer, the impact damage area gradually reduces, and surface damage becomes smaller. With the higher of impact energy, the impact damage area of U-type component increases and residual compressive strength decreases. On the condition of the impact energy being within 0 J to 16 J, the impact energy and residual compressive strength of U-type component are near linear relationship. The residual compressive strength of U-type component gradually enhances with the increasing 0° layer.

Key words: carbon fiber composites, impact damage, residual compressive strength, prosthetic foot