Evaluation of probabilistic aspects of composite plates reinforced by recycled carbon fiber nonwoven fabric

The elastic moduli of recycled carbon fiber nonwoven reinforced polymer (rCFRP) plates are studied using statistical methods to account for the curved, aligned, and entangled fibers. The effect of these fibers on elastic properties is quantified by introducing a joint expected fiber length cumulative distribution function (JELCDF) per unit area with respect to an orientation angle and curvature. The curvatures and orientation angles of the fibers are measured at the crossing point with the reference line. The explicit polynomial functions of the JELCDF are determined from experimental results using the least-squares method. The joint expected fiber length density function is used to estimate the orthotropic elastic moduli of the rCFRP plate, based on a self-consistent scheme where the curvature effect is neglected. The estimated results show good agreement with the experimental results and the present probabilistic method can be an effective method to estimate the performance of the rCFRP laminates.