Fatigue induced electrical property evolution and lightning strike damage mechanisms in CFRP structures

IF 7.8 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES

Composite Structures Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-15 DOI:10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120557

Hanyang Wu, Jingjing Tong, Chushi Xie, Xiangyu Tian, Wenjun Xu, Yongjie Jia, Jinru Sun, Xueling Yao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have been widely applied in modern aerospace structures due to their high specific strength and lightweight advantages. Long term service fatigue alters CFRPs’ electrical properties and exacerbates lightning induced damage. This study aims to investigate the evolution of electrical properties and lightning strike damage mechanisms of CFRP laminates under tension–tension fatigue loading. The coupling relationship between fatigue induced microstructural degradation, electrical conductivity variation, and lightning damage development was revealed. Firstly, tension–tension fatigue tests were performed on T300/epoxy CFRP laminates with a typical aerospace layup. The fatigue SN curve was established to characterize the fatigue life under different stress amplitudes. Secondly, the DC body and surface resistivity of CFRP specimens at different fatigue cycles were quantitatively measured using the two electrode method. The effects of applied voltage and fatigue damage accumulation on the static electrical conductivity were analyzed. Thirdly, nondestructive low amplitude (≤1 kA) lightning current injection tests were conducted on specimens with four typical fatigue damage ratios (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6). The dynamic resistance characteristics, including inductive response and hysteresis behavior, were examined under varying current peaks. Finally, destructive lightning Component A impulse tests with peak currents of 10 kA, 30 kA, and 50 kA were carried out. Ultrasonic C scan and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) were utilized to observe the damage morphology. The lightning damage area for different fatigue states was quantitatively determined. The results demonstrate that both DC through thickness and in plane resistivities decrease with increasing applied voltage and fatigue cycles. The waveform also shows distinct semiconductor like threshold voltage and saturation voltage features, which gradually weaken and even disappear as fatigue damage accumulates. Under low amplitude lightning current, CFRP shows obvious inductive characteristics in both in plane and through thickness directions. The dynamic resistance presents a significant noncoincident hysteresis phenomenon between the current rising and falling stages. The hysteresis loop area decreases first and then increases with the increase of fatigue cycles. Lightning strike test results reveal that the lightning damage area increases monotonically with the lightning current amplitude. Notably, as the fatigue damage ratio increases, the lightning damage area exhibits a nonmonotonic trend of first decreasing and then increasing. This phenomenon is closely related to the dual effect of fatigue damage on the internal conductive network of CFRP. This research systematically clarifies the static and dynamic electrical property evolution and lightning strike damage mechanisms of CFRP throughout the fatigue life cycle. It provides important theoretical guidance and experimental support for the lightning protection design, structural safety evaluation.

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CFRP结构疲劳致电学性能演化及雷击损伤机理

碳纤维增强聚合物（CFRP）复合材料以其高比强度和轻量化的优点在现代航空航天结构中得到了广泛的应用。长期使用疲劳会改变cfrp的电气性能，并加剧雷击引起的损伤。本研究旨在探讨CFRP复合材料在拉伸-拉伸疲劳载荷下的电学性能演变及雷击损伤机理。揭示了疲劳引起的微结构退化、电导率变化和雷电损伤发展之间的耦合关系。首先，对T300/环氧CFRP复合材料进行了典型航空铺层的拉伸疲劳试验。建立了疲劳SN曲线来表征不同应力幅值下的疲劳寿命。其次，采用双电极法定量测量了CFRP试件在不同疲劳循环下的直流体电阻率和表面电阻率。分析了外加电压和疲劳损伤积累对材料静电导电性的影响。第三，对具有4种典型疲劳损伤比（0、0.2、0.4、0.6）的试件进行无损低幅（≤1 kA）雷击电流注入试验。在不同的电流峰值下，测试了动态电阻特性，包括感应响应和磁滞行为。最后，进行了峰值电流为10 kA、30 kA和50 kA的破坏性雷电A分量冲击试验。利用超声C扫描和扫描电镜（SEM）观察损伤形态。定量确定了不同疲劳状态下的雷击损伤面积。结果表明，随着外加电压和疲劳循环次数的增加，直流厚度和面内电阻率均降低。波形还表现出明显的半导体样阈值电压和饱和电压特征，随着疲劳损伤的积累，阈值电压和饱和电压逐渐减弱甚至消失。在低幅雷击电流作用下，CFRP在平面和穿透厚度方向上均表现出明显的感应特性。动态电阻在电流上升和下降阶段之间表现出明显的非重合滞后现象。随着疲劳循环次数的增加，滞回线面积先减小后增大。雷击试验结果表明，雷击损伤面积随雷击电流幅值的增大而单调增大。随着疲劳损伤比的增大，雷击损伤面积呈现先减小后增大的非单调趋势。这种现象与疲劳损伤对碳纤维布内部导电网络的双重作用密切相关。本研究系统地阐明了碳纤维布在整个疲劳寿命周期内的静、动态电学性能演变及雷击损伤机理。为防雷设计、结构安全评价提供了重要的理论指导和实验支持。

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来源期刊

Composite Structures 工程技术-材料科学：复合

CiteScore

12.00

自引率

12.70%

发文量

1246

审稿时长

78 days

期刊介绍： The past few decades have seen outstanding advances in the use of composite materials in structural applications. There can be little doubt that, within engineering circles, composites have revolutionised traditional design concepts and made possible an unparalleled range of new and exciting possibilities as viable materials for construction. Composite Structures, an International Journal, disseminates knowledge between users, manufacturers, designers and researchers involved in structures or structural components manufactured using composite materials. The journal publishes papers which contribute to knowledge in the use of composite materials in engineering structures. Papers deal with design, research and development studies, experimental investigations, theoretical analysis and fabrication techniques relevant to the application of composites in load-bearing components for assemblies, ranging from individual components such as plates and shells to complete composite structures.