The compressive damage mechanism of carbon nanotube/carbon fiber reinforced composites under high strain-rate loading: Effect of reinforcement synergy

This study utilizes the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) technique to investigate the impact compressive behavior of carbon nanotube (CNT)/carbon fiber reinforced composites under high strain rate loading. The impact-induced compressive damage evolution was characterized through SHPB testing, while synchronized high speed photography capturing real-time deformation and the fracture process, revealing correlations between internal crack initiation/propagation and stress variations. The results demonstrated that carbon fibers enhance the composite initial modulus while retaining the high-toughness characteristics of the CNT/epoxy matrix. Notably, the internal structural failure time was extended by 157%. The integration of SHPB testing with high-speed photographic observation provides a robust framework for analyzing the internal impact-induced compressive damage evolution, offering valuable insights for evaluating the dynamic behavior of other fiber-reinforced composites.