Improving the impact damage resistance of composite laminates using CNF/Z-pin multi-scale toughening

• Published in: Thin-walled structures 2023-08, Vol.189, p.110895, Article 110895
• Main Authors: Zhao, Guozhi, Li, Mengjia, Li, Xiping, Zheng, Jiajia, Zhang, Ziang, Hu, Zhonglue, Zhao, Yuan, Chen, Puhui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CNF-reinforced; Damage mechanics; Impact behavior; Multi-scale synergistic reinforced; Z-pin
• ISSN: 0263-8231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2023.110895

This paper investigated the effect of CNF (carbon nanofibre)/Z-pin multi-scale synergistic reinforcement on improving the impact damage resistance of carbon fiber-reinforced composite laminates. The out-of-plane low-velocity impact response of unreinforced, CNF -reinforced, Z-pin-reinforced and CNF/Z-pin multi-scale synergistic reinforced laminates were investigated. The use of CNF concurrently with Z-pin can not only eliminate the incapability of Z-pin in improving the damage resistance at low energy (damage initiation) but can also synergistically maximize the improvement of the impact resistance at high energy (damage propagation). At 50 J impact energy, the damaged area of CNF, Z-pin and CNF/Z-pin reinforced laminates were reduced by 10.3%, 29.5% and 34.8%. •Z-pin could not increase the damage initiation energy threshold of the laminate.•CNF can improve the damage initiation energy threshold.•Z-pin is superior to CNF in delaying damage propagation of laminates.•CNF can repair the defects of Z-pin implantation.•Z-pin can maximize the improvement of the impact resistance at high energy.