Fabrication, properties and failure of 3D integrated woven spacer composites with thickened face sheets

In this letter, 3D integrated woven spacer composites with thickened face sheets were fabricated successfully by 3D integrated woven technology and VARIM process. The three-point bending properties and failure mechanism were first analyzed to evaluate the effect of thickened face sheets. The results show that the thickness of face sheets is an important parameter influencing the mechanical properties of 3D integrated woven spacer composite. The bending load-bearing ability is improved significantly than that of composite without thickened face. Moreover, the strength of thickened face sheets dominates the failure of composite, and the destruction is a gradual process from external layers of the compression face to the interior "8"-shaped core layers. The better mechanical properties of this new composite indicate it has a good potential application in many engineering fields.