Experimental analysis of the effects of wrinkles in the radius of curvature of L-shaped carbon-epoxy specimens on unfolding failure

An experimental study has been carried out to describe the evolution of the failure load relative to the maximum misalignment angle of curved carbon-epoxy laminates with out-of-plane wrinkle defects for a large range of misalignments. L-angle specimens with different levels of fibre wrinkling were manufactured and tested in four-point bending tests. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and infrared thermography were used to monitor the tests. They allowed the stress concentrations induced by the wrinkles to be identified, together with their influences on the failure load of the sample. In most cases, increases in wrinkling levels led to decreases in failure loads.

Automated summary

An experimental study was conducted to describe the evolution of failure load in curved carbon-epoxy laminates with out-of-plane wrinkle defects at varying misalignment angles. The results showed that an increase in wrinkling levels led to a decrease in failure loads.