Date of Award

Summer 2026

Access Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair

Sirish Namilae

Committee Chair Email

namilaes@erau.edu

First Committee Member

Yi Zhao

First Committee Member Email

zhao1c4@erau.edu

Second Committee Member

Yongxin Liu

Second Committee Member Email

liuy11@erau.edu

College Dean

James W. Gregory

Abstract

Carbon Fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are widely used in aerospace, automotive, and structural applications due to their high specific strength, stiffness, and design flexibility. Their mechanical performance is critically governed by the fiber–matrix interface which controls stress transfer and directly influences damage initiation, crack propagation, and fracture behaviour. The interface properties are quantified through the Interfacial Shear Strength (IFSS) and fracture energy, both serving as key indicators of composite integrity. Effective interfacial bonding is therefore essential to the composite’s strength. Nanoscale fiber surface modifications provide a promising approach to enhance interfacial bonding and can also impart multifunctionality. These multifunctionalities can sometimes come at the cost of reduced interface properties. Addressing this performance trade-off between interface properties and multifunctionality is the central motivation of this thesis.

The objective of this thesis is to develop a 2D-Axisymmetric single-fiber push-out Finite Element Model (FEM) for Carbon Fiber (CF)/ epoxy composite to study and understand the interface behaviour. The interface is represented using a Cohesive Zone Model (CZM), enabling accurate computation of interface properties. The model is developed using prior experimental nanoindentation load-displacement curves and demonstrates strong correlation with the same, confirming its validity as a predictive tool. Building on this validated framework, novel partial fiber surface modifications incorporating both strong and weak modifications are systematically designed and evaluated. Simulations demonstrate that these hybrid modifications can simultaneously achieve enhanced interface properties and multifunctionality.

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