Investigation of mechanical properties and failure behavior in three-dimensional braided carbon fiber ribbed composites

This study investigates the bending and compression performance and failure modes of carbon fiber-reinforced ribbed composites, comparing three-dimensional (3D) braided and laminated structures. The 3D braided composites show superior performance with no significant crack propagation or delamination, while laminated structures exhibit substantial fracturing and delamination, particularly in interlayer regions. The bending and compression performance of 3D braided ribbed composites increased by 16.2% and 29.5%, respectively, compared to the laminated counterparts, owing to the efficient fiber integration achieved by the braiding process.