Failure Mechanisms in Natural Fibre Composites under High Strain Rates

Natural fibre composites offer sustainable alternatives to carbon fibre composites. However, their crashworthiness remains underexplored which is critical if the lightweight composites are to meet forthcoming EU ecodesign regulations. This proposal examines the high-strain rate failure of flax fibre-reinforced bio-epoxy composites by d ultra-fast X-ray phase-contrast imaging for the first time to answer the question:
What are the key failure mechanisms when flax fibre composites are subjected to high strain rates? Under quasi-static loads, we have observed classical kinking band formation, but in dynamic scenarios, the failure sequence is underexplored. Using split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) combined with synchrotron-based in-situ imaging, we will capture the evolution of internal damage and failure modes at high strain rates, paving the way towards their applications in structural and demanding automotive applications.