Interlaminar Fracture of Fiber-Hybrid Composite Laminates: A Multiscale Approach

Informacje na temat projektu

INFORM

Identyfikator umowy o grant: 101108965

DOI

10.3030/101108965

Projekt został zamknięty

Data podpisania przez KE 11 Października 2023

Data rozpoczęcia 1 Grudnia 2023

Data zakończenia 30 Listopada 2025

Finansowanie w ramach

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Koszt całkowity

Brak danych

Wkład UE

€ 175 920,00

Koordynowany przez

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INFORM (Interlaminar Fracture of Fiber-Hybrid Composite Laminates: A Multiscale Approach)

Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-12-01 do 2025-11-30

Podsumowanie kontekstu i ogólnych celów projektu

Carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are essential for the next generation of high-performance lightweight structures, particularly in the aerospace and automotive sectors. However, these materials are prone to delamination, a failure mode where the composite layers separate. Predicting and preventing this is critical, as current engineering practices often lead to heavy 'over-designed' components to ensure safety.

The INFORM project was motivated by the need to understand how these internal cracks grow and migrate within multidirectional, thin-ply composites. The overall objective was to move from trial-and-error testing toward a reliable multiscale approach that combines advanced mathematical modelling with high-resolution 3D imaging. By establishing the technical foundations for more damage-tolerant designs, the project contributes directly to the EU’s 2030 climate objectives. Lighter composite structures enable significant fuel savings and a lower carbon footprint in transportation, addressing key environmental and economic needs within the EU’s 624 M€ composite market.

Prace wykonane od początku projektu do końca okresu sprawozdawczego oraz najważniejsze dotychczasowe rezultaty

The INFORM project successfully integrated high-fidelity numerical simulations with pioneering experimental validation. A major achievement was the development of a custom, X-ray transparent mechanical testing rig. This allowed researchers, for the first time, to observe the 3D development of internal shear-driven cracks (mode II delamination) in situ using X-ray computed tomography (CT).

Key technical achievements include:
- Successful capture of delamination fronts and delamination migration events within the material bulk at a micro-scale resolution of 3.5 μm.
- Identification of complex 'zig-zag' fracture patterns in angle-ply laminates, providing volumetric evidence of how local microstructures dictate material failure.
- The project developed and validated a numerical design tool capable of predicting these failure paths with high accuracy, benchmarking them against real-time experimental data.

Innowacyjność oraz oczekiwany potencjalny wpływ (w tym dotychczasowe znaczenie społeczno-gospodarcze i szersze implikacje społeczne projektu)

INFORM moved beyond the current state of the art by challenging the 2D assumptions of existing international standards (such as ASTM D7905) and conventional edge-monitoring techniques. While traditional methods only monitor the edges of a specimen, our in situ CT approach proved that critical damage often occurs internally before it becomes visible on the surface.

The project proposed a new standardised protocol for 3D characterisation of shear-driven fracture. The potential impact is a shift toward 'virtual testing', where high-fidelity models reduce the need for expensive and time-consuming physical experiments. To ensure further uptake, future work will focus on integrating these 3D imaging datasets into industrial certification frameworks. This success has already secured follow-up funding for the FWO PATTERN project and supported the researcher’s transition to a faculty position at Politecnico di Milano.

In situ rig and capture of fibre bridging