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The Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus of CFRP laminates can be varied by changing their stacking sequences. CFRP with the specific stacking sequence can theoretically perform the “negative” Poisson’s ratio, which causes extension in the direction perpendicular to the loading direction, for example. However, the relationship between Poisson's ratio and fracture morphology has not yet been elucidated. In this study, tensile tests were performed for CFRP laminates with negative, zero and positive Poisson’s ratios, and failure morphologies were experimentally investigated.

In this study, the viscosity of unidirectional CFRTP laminates near the melting point was evaluated to discuss the relationship between the thermal fusion conditions and the flow of fiber and matrix. The laminates were regarded as a fluid flowing in a direction perpendicular to the fiber. The microscopic flow of the fiber and matrix near the melting point was observed during a parallel plate compression test. Based on this observation, viscosity and flow properties were evaluated by the finite element method. The results of the parallel plate compression test showed that the test conditions and the decrease in the thickness of the laminates are related to the apparent viscosity of the unidirectional plate. In addition, cracks in the direction of the maximum shear stress were detected via in situ observation near the melting point of the matrix. The occurrence of this phenomenon depended on the apparent viscosity of the unidirectional laminates and it was found that no cracks occurred when the apparent maximum viscosity of the unidirectional laminates was lower than a certain threshold.

In this article, the effects of ply thickness on the impact damage mechanisms in CFRP laminates are discussed based on the experimental observations. Quasi-isotropic CFRP laminates were manufactured using 38 µm thick thin-ply prepregs. Impact damage inside the laminates was evaluated by using ultrasonic scanning and sectional fractography. Compression after impact strength was also evaluated. Thin-ply laminates showed 23% higher strength than standard-ply laminates. Transverse cracks decreased drastically in thin-ply laminates, and localized delamination was largely extended. Based on the discussions in our previous study and the literature, the specific ply thickness without drastic crack propagation appears to be less than or equal to 40 µm. Therefore, the thin laminates showed few and localized transverse cracks and delamination was largely propagated in the midplane.