Damage characterization in fiber reinforced polymer via Digital Volume Correlation

An in situ experiment imaged via X-ray computed tomography was performed on a continuous glass fiber mat reinforced epoxy resin composite. The investigated dogbone specimen was subjected to uniaxial cyclic tension. The reconstructed scans (i.e., gray level volumes) were registered via Digital Volume Correlation. The calculated maximum principal strain fields and correlation residual maps exhibited strain localization areas within the material bulk, thus indicating damage inception and growth toward the specimen surface. Strained bands and areas of elevated correlation residuals were mainly concentrated in the narrowest gauge section of the investigated specimen, as well as on the specimen ligament edges. Gray level residuals were laid over the corresponding mesostructure to highlight and characterize damage development within the material bulk.