Data from: An experimental study on the manufacture and characterisation of in-plane fibre-waviness defects in composites

A new method has been developed for creating localised in-plane fibre-waviness in composite coupons and used to create a large batch of specimens. This method could be used by manufacturers to experimentally explore the effect of fibre-waviness on composite structures both directly and indirectly to develop and validate computational models. The specimens were assessed using ultrasound, digital image correlation and a novel inspection technique capable of measuring residual strain fields. To explore how the defect affects the performance of composite structures, the specimens were then loaded to failure. Predictions of remnant strength were made using a simple ultrasound damage metric and a new residual strain-based damage metric. The predictions made using residual strain measurements were found to be substantially more effective at characterising ultimate strength than ultrasound measurements. This suggests that residual strains have a significant effect on the failure of laminates containing fibre-waviness and that these strains could be incorporated into computational models to improve their ability to simulate the defect.本研究开发了一种可在复合材料试样（composite coupons）中制备局部面内纤维波动（in-plane fibre-waviness）的新方法，并利用该方法制备了大批量试样。该方法可供制造商通过直接与间接的实验手段，探究纤维波动对复合材料结构的影响，进而开发并验证计算模型（computational models）。研究采用超声检测（ultrasound）、数字图像相关法（digital image correlation）以及一种可测量残余应变场（residual strain fields）的新型检测技术，对所制备的试样进行了表征评估。为探究该缺陷对复合材料结构性能的影响，研究人员对试样开展了加载至失效的力学测试。本研究分别采用简单的超声损伤指标（damage metric）与新型基于残余应变的损伤指标，对试样的剩余强度（remnant strength）进行了预测。实验结果表明，基于残余应变测量的预测结果在表征极限强度（ultimate strength）方面，远优于基于超声检测的预测结果。这一发现说明，残余应变对含有纤维波动的层合板（laminates）的失效行为具有显著影响，且可将此类应变纳入计算模型，以提升模型对该缺陷的仿真模拟能力。