Compressive Strength and Mode of Failure of 8H Celion 3000/PMR15 Woven Composite Material

Center-notched and unnotched specimens cut from Celion 3000/PMR15 woven composite panels with 60% fiber volume fraction were tested under quasi-static compressive load to failure at room temperature. Micrographic evidence clearly identifies the mode of compressive failure as fiber kinking. Each fiber in the kink fractures because of a combination of compressive and shear stresses. A post failure mechanism follows the local fiber bundle failures, which completely deforms the material by large cracks. In center notched specimens, fiber kinks start from the notch and propagate to some distance from the notch before the post failure takes place.