Failure mechanisms of co-molded stainless steel and titanium inserts in carbon fiber reinforced prepreg composites
Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, cilt.33, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 33 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/15376494.2026.2655932
- Dergi Adı: Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC, DIALNET
- Anahtar Kelimeler: carbon fiber prepreg, co-molded, failure testing, Joint design, vacuum bagging
- İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The increasing integration of carbon fiber prepreg composites into aerospace and marine structures necessitates the development of lightweight joints with superior mechanical performance. This study presents an experimental investigation of the failure behavior of co-molded metallic inserts embedded in carbon fiber prepreg laminates under pull-out and shear loading conditions. Inserts manufactured from 17-4PH stainless steel and Ti-6Al-4V (grade 5) titanium alloy were integrated into laminates composed of T700 unidirectional fibers and SE 84LV epoxy resin. Specimens (101.3 × 101.3 mm2) were fabricated using a controlled co-curing process to ensure consistent interfacial bonding. The effects of insert material and geometry on load transfer mechanisms, failure modes, and ultimate load capacity were systematically analyzed. Results indicate that insert geometry governs stress distribution and interfacial load transfer efficiency, directly influencing the initiation of damage. Distinct failure mechanisms, including interfacial debonding, progressive matrix cracking, fiber breakage, and localized delamination, were identified. Titanium inserts demonstrated improved specific performance, whereas stainless steel inserts provided higher absolute load capacity under certain configurations. The findings underline the critical interplay between material selection and geometric design, offering new insights into optimizing co-molded joint configurations for enhanced structural efficiency, damage tolerance, and reliability in advanced composite applications.