Linear translaminar fracture characterization of additive manufactured continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic

This work presents the experimental determination of fracture mechanics parameters of composite specimens manufactured by fused filament fabrication (FFF) with continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic filaments, based on Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). The critical mode I translaminar fracture toughness (K Ic ) and the critical energy release rate (G Ic ) are found for unidirectional and cross-ply laminates. The specimens were submitted to quasi-static tensile testing. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used to find the stress field. The stress fields around the crack tip are compared to linear elastic finite element simulations. The results demonstrate the magnitude of fracture toughness is in the same range as for polymers and some metals, depending on lay-up configuration. Besides, fractographic analyses show some typical features as river lines, fiber impression, fiber pulls-out and porosity aspects.