Improvements of CFRP composite laminated joint fabricated from two dry carbon halves using vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding VARTM

Vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM) process was used to fabricate CFRP joints and fabrics used as adhesive composite joints. This study focuses on carbon fibre reinforced plastic CFRP adhesive joint sdedicated to offshore wind turbine structures. The main objective of this study is to improve the mechanical performance of an adhesive joint called a "laminated joint". The joint is developed by stacking two dry carbon fibre fabric halves together and moulding them using the VARTM process. The improved design of this joint includes overlapping the two half fabrics and adding extra carbon fibre fabric pieces. Four joints are considered in this work: conventional laminated joint, two overlapped joints, and multiple-covers laminated joint. Specimens are prepared for static flexural and Charpy impact testing. In addition, post-fracture analysis is performed using optical microscopy to identify the dependence of modes of damage and its propagation on the type of joint.