Beylergil, BertanTanoğlu, MetinAktaş, Engin2021-02-192021-02-1920191229-93671598-6233https://doi.org/10.12989/scs.2019.31.2.113https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12868/518Beylergil, Bertan/0000-0002-3204-6746; Aktas, Engin/0000-0002-5706-2101In this study, carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites were interleaved with aramid nonwoven veils with an areal weight density of 8.5 g/m(2) to improve their Mode-I fracture toughness. The control and aramid interleaved CF/EP composite laminates were manufactured by VARTM in a [0]4 configuration. Tensile, three-point bending, compression, interlaminar shear, Charpy impact and Mode-I (DCB) fracture toughness values were determined to evaluate the effects of aramid nonwoven fabrics on the mechanical performance of the CF/EP composites. Thermomechanical behavior of the specimens was investigated by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). The results showed that the propagation Mode-I fracture toughness values of CF/EP composites can be significantly improved (by about 72%) using aramid nonwoven fabrics. It was found that the main extrinsic toughening mechanism is aramid microfiber bridging acting behind the crack-tip. The incorporation of these nonwovens also increased interlaminar shear and Charpy impact strength by 10 and 16.5%, respectively. Moreover, it was revealed that the damping ability of the composites increased with the incorporation of aramid nonwoven fabrics in the interlaminar region of composites. On the other hand, they caused a reduction in in-plane mechanical properties due to the reduced carbon fiber volume fraction, increased thickness and void formation in the composites.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccesscomposite structurescrackfiber reinforced polymers (FRPs)fracture/fracture criteriadelaminationbending and shear strengthaxial compressionArticle10.12989/scs.2019.31.2.113312113123Q1WOS:000464609300001N/A