Mesoscale Characterisation on the Mechanical Properties of CFRP after Hygrothermal Ageing

doi:10.3901/JME.2025.08.107

Abstract

Abstract: Carbon fibre reinforced polymer(CFRP) is widely used in aerospace, marine engineering, automobile industries, due to its outstanding mechanical properties including high specific strength, high specific modulus, low thermal expansion coefficient and good structural stability. However, during the long-term service period of CFRP structures, CFRP materials can be degraded due to the existence of hot and humid environment, which leads to significant impact on the reliability and durability of the structure. A nanoindentation-based experimental method is proposed to characterise the mechanical properties of CFRP. The cross section of hygrothermally-aged CFRP was tested under nanoindentation, and the mesoscale modulus and hardness of CFRP matrix with different moisture concentrations are obtained. It is found that higher moisture concentration leads to lower residual mechanical property. Furthermore, the elastic modulus derived from representative volume element(RVE) simulation and obtained from nanoindentation testing are compared, proving the validity of the experimental method proposed. The presented mesoscale characterisation can thus provide reliable material parameters for multiscale modelling of CFRP. It is also suitable for the characterization of many other composite materials at the microscale.

Key words: composites, hygrothermal ageing, nanoindentation, reduced modulus, multiscale modelling

CLC Number:

TH114

ZHANG Jiahao, HAN Xiao, ZHANG Yuxiang, MA Jianli, WU Chengwei, GUO Xinglin. Mesoscale Characterisation on the Mechanical Properties of CFRP after Hygrothermal Ageing[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 61(8): 107-115.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Reference Manager|ProCite|BibTeX|RefWorks

URL: http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/10.3901/JME.2025.08.107

http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/Y2025/V61/I8/107

References

[1] 李哲，李健芳，沈登雄，等. CFRP碳纤维增强复合材料钢丝螺套连接性能研究[J]. 复合材料科学与工程， 2020(4)：117-120. LI Zhe，LI Jianfang，SHEN Dengxiong，et al. Study on the joint performance of steel wire sleeve for cfrp carbon fiber reinforced composites[J]. Composite Science and Engineering，2020(4)：117-120.
[2] 高云凯，刘哲，徐亚男，等. CFRP在汽车覆盖件中的应用研究[J]. 汽车工程， 2020，42(7)：978-984. GAO Yunkai，LIU Zhe，XU Yanan，et al. Research on application of CFRP in automotive cladding parts[J]. Automotive Engineering，20，42(7)：978-984
[3] ZHANG J，CHEN J，LI Z，et al. Optimisation design of cfrp passenger car seat backplane based on impact characteristics[J]. International Journal of Crashworthiness，2021，26(4)：355-367.
[4] 刘正虎. 电动汽车CFRP后地板轻量化设计[J]. 农业装备与车辆工程，2022，60(5)：158-162. LIU Zhenghu. Lightweight design of cfrp rear floor for electric vehicle[J]. Agricultural Equipment and Vehicle Engineering，2022，60(5)：158-162.
[5] 尚耀星，李瑶，于天，等. 轻量化复合材料液压缸现状及挑战[J]. 机械工程学报， 2021，57(24)：13-38. SHANG Yaoxing，LI Yao，YU Tian，et al. Current status and challenges of lightweight composite hydraulic cylinder[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering， 2021，57(24)：13-38.
[6] GHOLAMI M，AFRASIAB H，BAGHESTANI A M，et al. A novel multiscale parallel finite element method for the study of the hygrothermal aging effect on the composite materials[J]. Composites Science and Technology，2022，217：109120.
[7] 李登华，林浩，崔东霞，等. 碳纤维复合材料单向板耐候性及湿热老化性能[J]. 材料科学与工程学报， 2018，36(4)：535-540. LI Denghua，LIN Hao，CUI Dongxia，et al. Weathering resistance and wet heat aging properties of carbon fiber composite unidirectional plate[J]. Journal of Materials Science and Engineering，2018，36(4)：535-540.
[8] 余海燕，吴航宇，石慧茹. 湿热环境中碳纤维复合材料层合板的强度退化及老化寿命预测[J]. 机械工程材料， 2021，45(4)：40-45. YU Haiyan，WU Hangyu，SHI Huiru. Strength degradation and aging life prediction of carbon fiber composite laminates in hot and humid environment[J]. Materials for Mechanical Engineering，2021，45(4)：40-45.
[9] BEHERA A，VISHWAKARMA A，THAWRE M M，et al. Effect of hygrothermal aging on static behavior of quasi-isotropic cfrp composite laminate[J]. Composites Communications，2020，17：51-55.
[10] 田志强，李彦斌，张培伟，等. 复合材料层合板多尺度交互渐进损伤分析[J]. 工程力学，2019，36(12)：247-256. TIAN Zhiqiang，LI Yanbin，ZHANG Peiwei，et al. Multi-scale interactive progressive damage analysis of composite laminates[J]. Engineering Mechanics，2019，36(12)：247-256.
[11] ROCHA I，VAN DER MEER F P，NIJSSEN R，et al. A multiscale and multiphysics numerical framework for modelling of hygrothermal ageing in laminated composites[J]. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering，2017，112(4)：360-379.
[12] GUO F，HUANG P，LI Y，et al. Multiscale modeling of mechanical behaviors of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites subjected to hygrothermal aging[J]. Composite Structures，2021，256：113098.
[13] GHOLAMI M，AFRASIAB H，BAGHESTANI A M，et al. Hygrothermal degradation of elastic properties of fiber reinforced composites：A micro-scale finite element analysis[J]. Composite Structures，2021，266：113819.
[14] HAN X，PICKERING E，BO A，et al. Characterisation on the hygrothermal degradation in the mechanical property of structural adhesive：A novel meso-scale approach[J]. Composites Part B: Engineering，2020，182：107609.
[15] ZHU J，LANG F C，WANG S Y，et al. Determination of the interfacial properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymers using nanoindentation[J]. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites，2021，41(13-14)：509-516.
[16] FERNANDES P，VIANA G，CARBAS R J C，et al. The influence of water on the fracture envelope of an adhesive joint[J]. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics， 2017，89：1-15.
[17] OLIVER W C，PHARR G M. An improved technique for determining hardness and elastic modulus using load and displacement sensing indentation experiments[J]. Journal of Materials Research，1992，7(6)：1564-1583.
[18] OLIVER W C，PHARR G M. Measurement of hardness and elastic modulus by instrumented indentation： Advances in understanding and refinements to methodology[J]. Journal of Materials Research，2004，19：3-20.
[19] FAN X J，LEE S W R，HAN Q. Experimental investigations and model study of moisture behaviors in polymeric materials[J]. Microelectronics Reliability， 2009，49(8)：861-871.
[20] WAHAB M M A，ASHCROFT I A，CROCOMBE A D， et al. Diffusion of moisture in adhesively bonded joints[J]. The Journal of Adhesion，2001，77(1)：43-80.
[21] GHOLAMI M，AFRASIAB H，BAGHESTANI A M，et al. Mechanical and failure analysis of thick composites under hygrothermal conditions by a novel coupled hygro-thermo-mechanical multiscale algorithm[J]. Composites Science and Technology，2022，230：109773.
[22] CHANG F，SHAHID I，ENGDAHL R A. Predicting moduli and strengths reduction of unidirectional graphite/epoxy composites due to hygrothermal effects[J]. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites，1989，8(2)：106-132.
[23] OMAIREY S L，DUNNING P D，SRIRAMULA S. Development of an abaqus plugin tool for periodic rve homogenisation[J]. Engineering with Computers， 2019，35(2)：567-577.
[24] TAN E P S，LIM C T. Mechanical characterization of nanofibers-A review[J].Composites Science and Technology，2006，66(9)：1102-1111.
[25] INOUE N，YONEZU A，WATANABE Y，et al. Prediction of asymmetric yield strengths of polymeric materials at tension and compression using spherical indentation[J]. Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology，2017，139(2)：021002.