Micromechanical study on the origin of fiber bridging under interlaminar and intralaminar mode I failure

Fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) subjected to mode I fracture show important toughening due to the development of large scale bridging (LSB). Experimental studies of this phenomenon in unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminates using double cantilever beam specimens, demonstrate important differences in R-curve response for inter- and intralaminar fracture. Post fracture observation of composite’s cross-section pointed out dissimilar fiber bundle...