Date of Award

2-2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics

Department

Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

Weinong Chen

Committee Chair

Weinong Chen

Committee Member 1

Byron R. Pipes

Committee Member 2

Tomar Vikas

Abstract

Fiber reinforced composites are becoming increasingly common due to their high strength to weight ratios as compared to more conventional materials. Along with this increased used comes the need to have a higher level of understanding of the material characteristics. Specifically, the interface between the fiber and matrix is of particular interest. Loss of adhesion at this interface, known as debonding, can greatly decrease material strength. There has been significant research into debdonding phenomena at low strain rates. However, there is still a need for further insight at higher strain rates. In addition, given the opacity of many epoxy resins, conventional imaging is often unable to record debonding events or is restricted to only transparent matrices. By integrating a Kolsky tension bar along with X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging and a high speed camera, high strain rate debonding events of an opaque fiber reinforced composite are recorded and analyzed. Specifically, imaging of transverse debonding initiation and progression along with debonding loads are obtained in this research

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