The present study considers the dependence of mechanical properties in composite laminates on the fibre architecture. The objective is to characterise the mechanical properties of composite plates while varying the fibre distribution but keeping the constituent materials unchanged. Image analysis and fractal dimension have been used to quantify fibre distribution and resin-rich volumes (RRV) and to correlate these with the mechanical properties of the fibre-reinforced composites. The formation, shape and size of RRV in composites with different fabric architectures is discussed. The majority of studies in literatures show a negative effect of the RRV on the mechanical behaviour of composite materials. RRV arise primarily as a result of (a) the clustering of fibres as bundles in textiles, (b) the stacking sequence, and/ or stacking process, (c) the resin properties and flow characteristics, (d) the heating rate as this directly affects viscosity and (e) the consolidation pressure. Woven glass and carbon/epoxy fabric composites were manufactured either by the infusion or the resin transfer moulding (RTM) process. The fractal dimension (D) has been employed to explore the correlation between fabric architecture and mechanical properties (in glass or/ carbon fibre reinforced composites with different weave styles and fibre volume fraction). The fractal dimension was determined using optical microscopy images and ImageJ with FracLac software, and the D has been correlated with the flexural modulus, ultimate flexural strength (UFS), interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and the fatigue properties of the woven carbon/epoxy fabric composites. The present study also considers the dependence of fatigue properties in composite laminates on static properties and fibre architecture. Four-point flexural fatigue test was conducted under load control, at sinusoidal frequency of 10 Hz with amplitude control. Using a stress ratio (R=σmin/σmax) of 0.1 for the tension side and 10 for the compression side, specimens were subjected to maximum fatigue stresses of 95% to 82.5% step 2.5% of the ultimate flexural strength (UFS). The fatigue data were correlated with the static properties and the fibre distribution, in order to obtain a useful general description of the laminate behaviour under flexural fatigue load. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique was applied to the results obtained to identify statistically the significance of the correlations. Composite strength and ILSS show a clear dependence on the fibre distribution quantified using D. For the carbon fabric architectures considered in this study, the fatigue properties of composite laminates have significant correlations with the fibre distribution and the static properties of the laminates. The loss of 5-6 % in the flexural modulus of composite laminates indicates an increasing risk of failure of the composite laminates under fatigue loads. The endurance limits, based on either the static properties or the fibre distribution, were inversely proportional to the strength for all laminates.

Afin de pouvoir détecter un défaut dans un composite, plusieurs méthodes de contrôle non destructif ont été développées. Le but de ce travail est de localiser un délaminage dans un stratifié carbone / époxyde en utilisant deux méthodes : la thermosonique et la thermographie. La première méthode consiste en une excitation par ultrasons et une détection par caméra IR. Pour la seconde technique, le matériau est irradié par une onde thermique et la détection est aussi réalisée par une caméra IR. Afin de comparer les résultats obtenus, des tests par immersion ultrasons C-scan ont été réalisés sur les échantillons. Cette méthode permet d'obtenir une cartographie du délaminage présent dans le stratifié. Un algorithme de comparaison entre la détection du délaminage faite par les ultrasons C-scan et les deux méthodes a permis de révéler les différences de forme du défaut détecté. Différents traitements d'images ont été appliqués aux images IR obtenues : des analyses temporelles et des analyses spatiales/temporelles. L'étude de l'évolution instantanée ainsi que l'évolution globale de la température se sont révélées prometteuses pour la thermosonique. L'image la plus décorrélée obtenus par l'analyse en composante principales donne un résultat tout aussi satisfaisant pour cette méthode. Pour la méthode sans contact, la thermographie, l'étude de la phase a permis de révéler la forme du délaminage avec la même précision que la thermosonique.Une comparaison de ces deux méthodes a été réalisée afin de mettre en évidence leurs avantages et leurs inconvénients. / To detect a defect in a composite, several methods of non destructive testing have been developped. The aim of this work is to find a delamination in polymer matrix laminates thanks to two methods : thermosonics and thermography. The first method consists of an ultrasonic excitation and a detection by an IR camera. For the second technique, the plate is irradiated with a thermal wave and the detection is also performed by an IR camera. To compare the results, ultrasonic immersion tests were performed on the samples. This method provides a map of the delamination in the laminate. An algorithm for comparing the detection of delamination made by the ultrasonic C-scan and both methods revealed differences in the shape of the detected defect. Several image processing have been applied to the IR images recorded : temporal analysis and spatial / temporal analysis. The study of the instant evolution and the global evolution of the temperature are promissing for thermosonics. The most uncorrelated image obtained by principal component analysis gives is satisfactory for this method. For thermography, the non contact method, the phase study revealed the shape of delamination with the same precision as thermosonics.A comparison between the two methods was realised to highlight their advantages and their drawbacks.