There is an emerging interest in the aerospace industry to manufacture components with intricate geometries using discontinuous fibre carbon/polyether–ether–ketone moulding systems (obtained by cutting unidirectional tape into strands). This type of material system is termed randomly oriented strand composites and is appealing for structural applications as it bridges the gap between the lack of formability of continuous fibre composites and the lack of performance of short fibre composites. The objective of this study was to investigate mechanical properties (tensile, compressive, shear and fatigue) of randomly oriented strand composites and to quantify the effect of strand size on their properties. Overall, properties were found to be highly variable and dependent on the strand length. Interestingly, tensile, compressive and shear strength had similar magnitudes and exhibited the same failure mechanisms (strand fracture and debonding). This experimental work expands the knowledge base for randomly oriented strand composite materials.
Eguémann N, Giger L, Roux M, et al. Compression moulding of complex parts for the aerospace with discontinuous novel and recycled thermoplastic composite materials. In: The 19th international conference on composite materials. Montreal, QC, Canada, 2013.
3.
SeleznevaMPicher-MartelG-PLandryB. Compression moulding of discontinuous-fibre carbon/PEEK composites: study of mechanical properties. In: SAMPE, Baltimore, MD (Maryland), USA, 2012.
4.
Selezneva M, Kouwonou K, Lessard L, et al. Mechanical properties of randomly oriented strands thermoplastic composites. In: The 19th international conference on composite materials Montreal, QC, Canada, 2013.
5.
Picher-Martel G-P and Hubert P. Squeeze flow behaviour of carbon/PEEK randomly-oriented strands under transverse compaction. In: American Society for Composites 27th Annual Technical Conference/The 15th US–Japan Conference on Composite Materials, Arlington, Texas, USA, 2012.
6.
Picher-Martel G-P, Levy A and Hubert P. Squeeze flow of randomly-oriented strands thermoplastic composites. In: The 19th international conference on composite materials, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2013.
7.
Landry B and Hubert P. Processing effect on the damage tolerance of randomly-oriented strands thermoplastic composites. In: The 19th international conference on composite materials, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2013.
8.
HanJHAlexanderWBTorresF. Effect of fabric reinforcement on failure response of discontinuous long fiber composite bolted joints. In: SAMPE, Long Beach, CA, USA, 2011.
EguemannNGigerLRouxM. Manufacturing and recycling of complex composite thermoplastic parts for aerospace applications. In: SAMPE Europe 7th SETEC 12, Lucerne, Switzerland, 2012, pp. 34–39.
13.
Matsuo T, Takayama K, Takahashi J, et al. Design and manufacturing of anisotropic hollow beam using thermoplastic composites. In: The 19th international conference on composite materials, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2013.
14.
Feraboli P, Gasco F, Wade B, et al. Lamborghini “forged composites(R)” technology for the suspension arms of the Sesto Elemento. In: The 26th American Society for Composites (ASC) Technical Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2011.
15.
Sato Y, Takahashi J, Matsuo T, et al. Elastic modulus estimation of chopped carbon fiber taper reinforced thermoplastics using the Monte Carlo simulation. In: The 19th international conference on composite materials, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2013.
16.
FeraboliPClevelandTSticklerP. Stochastic laminate analogy for simulating the variability in modulus of discontinuous composite materials. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf2010; 41: 557–570.
17.
FeraboliPClevelandTCiccuM. Defect and damage analysis of advanced discontinuous carbon/epoxy composite materials. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf2010; 41: 888–901.
18.
Eguémann N, Giger L, Masania K, et al. Processing of characterisation of carbon fibre reinforced PEEK with discontinuous architecture. In: ECCM16 – 16th European Conference on Composite Materials, Seville, Spain, 2014.
19.
QianCHarperLTTurnerTA. Notched behaviour of discontinuous carbon fibre composites: comparison with quasi-isotropic non-crimp fabric. Compos Part A2011; 42: 293–302.
20.
Selezneva M, Meldrum S, Roy S, et al. Modelling of mechanical properties of randomly oriented strands thermoplastic composites. In: ECCM16 – 16th European conference on composite materials, Seville, Spain, 2014.
21.
CogswellFN. The experience of thermoplastic structural composites during processing. Compos Manuf1991, pp. 2: 208–216.
22.
BekahSRabieiRBarthelatF. The micromechanics of biological and biomimetic staggered composites. J Bionic Eng2012; 9: 446–456.
Johanson K, Harper LT, Johnson M, et al. Studying the heterogeneity of discontinuous fiber composites using a new full-field strain measurement system. In: The 19th international conference on composite materials, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2013.
HanJHAlexanderWBGodwinA. Characterization of milled carbon fiber added random discontinuous long fiber composites. In: SAMPE, Seattle, WA, USA, 2010.
27.
EguémannN. Study on the mechanical behaviour of carbon fibre reinforced PEEK polymer with a layered discontinuous architecture, Besançon, France: L'U.F.R. des sciences et techniques de l'Université de Franche-Comté, 2013. .
28.
HarperLT. Discontinuous carbon fibre composites for automotive applications, Nottingham: University of Nottingham, 2006.
