Hybrid effect of carbon/glass composites as a function of the strength distribution of aligned short carbon fibres

This paper aims to investigate the effect of strength distribution of aligned discontinuous carbon fibre layers in carbon/glass hybrid composites on the increase of carbon fibre failure strain. The aligned discontinuous carbon layers were manufactured by the HiPerDiF (High Performance Discontinuous Fibre) method, this allows manipulating the strength distribution of carbon layers while maintaining mechanical properties comparable with continuous carbon composites. Single fibre tests were performed to obtain the statistical properties of each group of carbon fibres. Interlaminated hybrid composite specimens with aligned discontinuous carbon plies sandwiched between continuous glass plies were designed and tested in uniaxial tension. The experimental results of the hybrid effect were compared with modelling predictions.