The application of composite through-thickness assessment to additively manufactured structures

This study looks into the applicability of through-thickness assessment to additive manufacturing (AM) carbon-fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs). The study utilised a material extrusion printer that uses fused filament fabrication and composite filament fabrication technologies to manufacture functionally-graded polymer and composite polymer parts. The matrix material of choice was nylon 6. Samples were printed exploring a range of reinforcement volume content. In summary, this study presents an assessment of the applicability of through-thickness testing to AM CFRP specimens and provides a performance comparison between AM composite through-thickness properties and the properties of equivalent CM CFRP specimens.