Abstract
Hybrid laminated Al/carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites are attracting considerable attention from industries such as aerospace and automobiles owing to their excellent specific strength and specific rigidity. However, when this material is used to fabricate high-pressure fuel storage containers subjected to repeated fatigue loads, fatigue life evaluation for the working load is regulated as an important criterion for operational safety and ease of maintenance. Among the existing evaluation methods for these vessels, the burst test and the hydraulic repeat test require expensive facilities. Thus, the present study aims to develop an improved fatigue life test for Al/CFRP laminated hybrid composites. The test specimen was manufactured using a curved mold considering the shape of a type III high-pressure storage container. The strain-life method was used for fatigue life evaluation, and the life was predicted based on the transition life. The results indicate that the more complex the CFRP stacking sequence, the longer is the transition life. This test method is expected to be useful for ensuring the fatigue safety and economy of hybrid laminate composites.