Experimental and numerical research on opening size effect of novel short fiber reinforced composite laminates

[Display omitted] •More than 80% of tensile strength of UACS specimens is retained when the diameter-width ratio is less than 20%. The strength reduction rate of UACS open-hole laminates with different hole sizes is much lower compared with CF laminates, but increases faster.•The strain concentration factor of UACS laminates is larger than that of CF laminates. The bi-angled slits inhibit the initiation and propagation of delamination. The progressive failure of UACS open-hole laminates gradually decreases due to more brittle failure with increasing hole size.•Based on the better fiber flowability and lower strength reduction rate of UACS laminates, manufacturers could enhance the quality and safety of their shape-complexed composite products which need to be connected for small aperture ratio. This study investigates the opening size effect of a novel short fiber reinforced quasi-isotropic composite laminate with unidirectionally arrayed chopped strands (UACS) under tensile load by approaches of simulations and experiments. The layup of [45/0/-45/90]s was used to fabricate novel carbon fiber laminates with various central hole diameter from 4 mm to 10 mm. Low notch sensitivity and strength reduction rate were observed in UACS open-hole laminates. It was found that when the width diameter ratio (d/w) of UACS laminate with open-hole is less than 20%, 80% of the original strength can be maintained, which can greatly reduce the design safety factor. Compared with continuous fiber laminates, high increase rate of strength reduction rate was induced by bi-angled slits with the increasing of open hole diameter. The strain distribution around the hole was affected significantly by bi-angled slits, which also inhibited the initiation and propagation of delamination effectively. The strain concentration factor of UACS laminates increases with the increasing open hole diameter. The damage progression of notched and unnotched UACS laminates were analyzed by simulation method, which are consistent well with experimental results.