Monitoring of Failure Mechanisms in FibeInternational Journal of Modern Physicsr Reinforcecd Composites during Cryogenic Colling by Acoustic Emission

Abstract

Microfractures in composite laminates during cryogenic cooling were monitored employing thermo-acoustic emission(AE). During the initial stage of cryogenic cooling, very strong AE signals with low and high frequency bands were dominantly detected showing a development of large cracks accompanying fiber breakages. After that, weak emissions with low frequency bands became prevalent indicating the propagation of microfractures in the matrix and/or fiber-matrix interface. It was concluded that the breakage of bridged-fibers hindering the macroscopic cracking in the initial stage might be the representative cryogenic damage of composite laminates.