LAUSR

Abstract Research on internal three-dimensional (3D) strain evolution of a failure process was conducted on a short carbon fiber-reinforced composite through high-resolution (0.33 μm/pixel) in situ synchrotron radiation X-ray computed tomography. Material microstructure and strain value were analyzed simultaneously in 3D for the first time. The distribution of strain fields is nonuniform under load sequences. They are very difference that the strain evolution of the 3D morphological feature, the strain value and the relative inclination, of the two regions divided from the overall distribution of the strain field. Given the arrangement characteristics of the surrounding fibers, the evolution of the strain field is either restricted by the fibers or continues to expand around the fibers. This condition is strongly correlated with the failure of the sample. Results show an intrinsic association between the failure process and strain evolution and the structural distribution for short carbon fiber/epoxy composite.