Experimental and numerical investigations of perforated CFR woven fabric laminates

This paper is focussed on the determination of various material properties under static loading conditions of perforated and non-perforated carbon fiber reinforced 2/2 twill weave laminates as well as on the verification of numerical models. Experimental stiffness and strength results are obtained for non-perforated single plies, non-perforated [0/45/90] lay-ups and perforated [0/45/90] lay-ups. The single ply results of the non-perforated material are used as input values for the numerical calculations based on homogenization in combination with classical lamination theory or finite element analyses. Tests were done by acoustic emission testing technique to obtain first ply failure strength values. Critical gage lengths are discussed in the case of perforated laminates. Finally experimental and numerical stiffness and strength results are compared to show the capability of the numerical models for predicting reliable material properties.