Mechanism‐Driven Failure Criteria for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites Across Laminated and Three‐Dimensional Braided Architectures: A Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) is widely used in aerospace and other fields due to its excellent mechanical properties. Failure analysis is crucial for optimizing CFRP structural design and improving service performance. CFRP failure is closely related to material structure and applied loads. Laminates and three‐dimensional (3D) braided CFRP are two typical structural types. Laminated CFRP features stacking, multiphase states, and anisotropy, while 3D braided CFRP exhibits spatially interlaced anisotropy. Their response mechanisms vary under different loads. For instance, under low‐velocity impact, laminated CFRP tends to develop matrix‐shear‐induced oblique cracks that lead to delamination, whereas 3D braided CFRP mainly fails by resin cracking and fiber‐resin debonding. Consequently, researchers worldwide conducted extensive fundamental and applied studies on CFRP failure behavior. This review compares laminated and 3D braided CFRP under various loads from four aspects: damage initiation, control variables, crack path, and fracture morphology. The dominant damage pathways differ substantially between the two architectures. Laminated CFRP is generally more susceptible to interlaminar delamination, whereas 3D braided CFRP tends to exhibit more pronounced yarn–matrix interfacial debonding, matrix cracking, and architecture‐dependent yarn failure. This review evaluates classical criteria for braided CFRP, notes their limited extrapolability, and summarizes recommended criteria for different loads. This review addresses the mismatch between architecture‐dependent failure mechanisms and the applicability of conventional failure criteria when applying laminate theory to 3D braided structures.