Fatigue behavior of carbon/epoxy composites reinforced with 3-Dimensional woven fabric

This paper reports results of study of fatigue behavior of a non-crimp 3-dimensional woven carbon/epoxy composite in tension-tension fatigue. Infinite fatigue life limit corresponds to the load of 27.5 kN for fill direction. The damage under fatigue loading starts and develops from intersection of z-yarns and fill yarns. Since the z-yarns bonded the yarn layers, it is not seen the delaminastion damages. This indicate that for load carrying capacity and stiffness of 3-dimensional composites better than classic 2-dimensional textile composites.