Study on biaxial tensile failure behavior of ultra-thin-ply carbon fiber reinforced composites

The superior mechanical properties of ultra-thin-ply carbon fiber reinforced composites under uniaxial stress have been widely recognized. However, composite structures are often subjected to multiaxial loading in practical applications. Therefore, this study focuses on investigating the mechanical properties of ultra-thin-ply carbon fiber reinforced composites under biaxial stress conditions. Firstly, the geometric structure of a cruciform biaxial test specimen for composites is designed, and its rationality is demonstrated. Subsequently, cruciform biaxial test specimens with ply thicknesses of 24 μm and 100 μm are prepared for quasi-isotropic laminated plates, and biaxial tensile experiments with stress ratios of 0:1, 1:1, and 2:1 are conducted. This study establishes the failure envelope of ultra-thin-ply composites under biaxial tensile conditions and compare it with the experimental results of standard-ply composites. Finally, the fracture surfaces of the specimens and acoustic emission signals are analyzed to reveal the failure mechanisms of the composites under biaxial stress conditions. The results indicate that ultra-thin-ply carbon fiber reinforced composites exhibit higher interaction degree under biaxial stress, and their ability to suppress delamination is stronger.