Influence of loading conditions on acquired AE signals in biocomposites

Composite materials are increasingly used in lightweight transportation systems and civil engineering due to increasing weight constraints and installation costs. In the case of transportation systems such as in the aerospace and automobile industries, the use of composite materials reduces the weight, which is reflected in increasing the transportable load and reducing fuel consumption, and therefore the mechanical performance of the material is a very important and desired attribute. Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers, such as flax, are gaining attention in engineering applications due to their sustainable and mechanical properties. This paper's research was designed to investigate the AE signals at different loading conditions of V-notched biocomposite specimens. Applying different loading cases, ranging from pure tension to pure shear, provided an understanding of the material's response under diverse stress states. The multi-axial strength and failure characteristics of biocomposites are evaluated. Digital image correlation technique provided measurement of strain fields complemented with AE data. AE signals have proven effective in capturing the onset and progression of different failure sources in composite material.