Fracture behaviour of carbon nanotube and carbon fibre-reinforced, epoxy-matrix hybrid composite

In the present study, fracture resistance of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon fibre-reinforced, epoxy-matrix hybrid composite has been evaluated and reported. Load-displacement data with varying notch lengths (a/W ratio) were used to evaluate the fracture resistance in terms of KIc, JIc, Jc and R-curve, variation of JR with δ/δc, in two orthogonal directions. It has been concluded that the resistance to fracture is significantly greater in the longitudinal orientation of fibres than in the transverse orientation; more pertinently in case of all the three J-based parameters. Topological studies have also been conducted to understand the fracture behaviour.