Experimental Investigation on Tensile Property of Carbon Reinforced Composite Produced with Vacuum Bagging

Abstract

In this study, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites (CFRP) were manufactured using the Vacuum Bagging Method (VBM). Twill woven carbon fibers with an areal weight of 245 g/m² were employed as the reinforcement material. The composite laminates were fabricated with a five-layer symmetric stacking sequence of [0]₅. Tensile tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM D3039 standards to evaluate mechanical properties, specifically tensile strength and elastic modulus. Furthermore, the fracture surfaces of the tested specimens were examined via fractographic analysis. The experimental results revealed that fiber orientation significantly influences the mechanical behavior of CFRP laminates. Specimens tested along the 0° fiber direction exhibited substantially higher tensile strength and modulus values compared to those tested at a 30° orientation. Fractographic analysis indicated that the 0° oriented samples showed predominantly brittle fracture characteristics, whereas specimens with a 30° orientation demonstrated more ductile behavior through shear-induced deformation. These findings underscore the critical role of fiber orientation in determining the mechanical performance and failure mechanisms of CFRP laminates.