Abstract Scope |
To gain a thorough understanding of the impact damage patterns and damage propagation inside epoxy/CF composites, this research examines the effects of atmospheric pressure air plasma treatment on CF with varying exposure times and nozzle distances. Furthermore, the study used the acoustic emission method to thoroughly examine fracture behavior and damage patterns. The Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI) process is used to produce epoxy/CF composites by pre-treating CF with air plasma at atmospheric pressure. Following different plasma exposure intervals, the epoxy/CF composites are tested for Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness, according to EN6033, and EN 6034 standards, respectively. Acoustic emission sensors are used to monitor each test concurrently, resulting in synchronized acoustic data. The K-means clustering approach was used to process this data, allowing for a thorough analysis of the fracture behavior and damage mechanisms of epoxy/CF composites. The study's findings demonstrate that there are ideal atmospheric pressure plasma treatment parameters for epoxy/CF composites. After acoustic data is processed, discrete clusters representing various damage modes of matrix cracking, delamination, fiber pullout, and fiber breakage are produced. These clusters provide important new information about the complex mechanics underlying these sophisticated materials. |