Critical void content for thermoset composite laminates

An experimental program to characterize the effect of voids on the strength of composite laminates is presented. The adequacy of a fracture criterion to represent the experimental data for the effect of voids on the flexure strength, tensile strength, and interlaminar shear strength of composite laminates is assessed. The experimental program investigates the effect of different pressures and dwell times on the critical void content. Laminates produced with carbon fiber/epoxy resin unidirectional prepreg have been produced with an intentionally high void content. Short beam shear, three-point flexure, and tensile testing are used for mechanical evaluation and the results correlate to void volume fraction and ultrasonic absorption coefficient. The ultrasonic absorption coefficient is measured for all the specimens and its variation is approximately linear with the void content, corroborating previous experimental results. The effects of these factors on the strength of the composite laminates are discussed in terms of the fracture parameters involved in the fracture criterion. The critical void content is estimated for each case both in terms of void content and ultrasonic attenuation.