Compression Fatigue Response for Carbon Fiber With Conventional and Toughened Epoxy Matrices With Damage

This paper compares the open hole compression, compression after impact, compression fatigue of open hole specimens, and compression fatigue after impact response of quasi-isotropic laminates with IM7 carbon fiber and 3501-6 and 8551-7 epoxy matrices. These matrices can be considered to be a relatively brittle and a high-toughness resin, respectively. The objective was to establish whether the improved compression after impact response associated with high toughness matrices also held after fatigue loading. The results of impact and compression fatigue tests show that residual strengths of the toughened epoxy matrix system were approximately twice that of the brittle matrix system, and that fatigue resistance after impact and of open hole specimens was generally improved.