Effects of loading rate and loading direction on the compressive failure behavior of a 2D triaxially braided composite

The effects of loading rate and loading direction on the compression failure behavior of a typical 0 degrees/+/- 60 degrees twodimensional triaxially braided composite (2DTBC) were studied by compressing brick specimens cut from an eight-layer 2DTBC panel along the axial and transverse directions. Quasi-static tests were conducted using an electronic universal testing machine, and a novel Electromagnetic Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (E-SHPB) was employed to carry out dynamic tests. High-speed cameras were employed to monitor the progressive failure process in the specimen during the tests, and the failure morphology was examined using an optical microscope. The test results show that both axial and transverse compression strength noticeably increase under dynamic loading conditions. Moreover, different failure mechanisms for the 2DTBC under axial and transverse compression were observed, and the influence of loading rate on the compressive failure behavior of the 2DTBC was systematically investigated.