Effect of fiber orientation on the structure of shock waves in carbon fiber-epoxy composites

Using an analytical relation between the Hugoniot (anisotropic and isotropic) states and other thermodynamic (anisotropic and isotropic) states at high pressures, the effect of fiber orientation on the structure of shock waves in carbon fiber-epoxy composites of various symmetry is investigated. A correct nonlinear model of propagation of shock waves in anisotropic materials is proposed, which employs the conception of total generalized pressure and the pressure corresponding to the thermodynamic response, i.e., to the equation of state. The equation generalizes the nonlinear Hugoniot equation to anisotropic materials and is reduced to the classical variant in the case of isotropy. Invoking the relations of nonlinear anisotropic solids and the generalized decomposition of stress tensor, the double structure of shock waves, consisting of nonlinear anisotropic and isotropic elastic parts, is examined. The numerical calculations of Hugoniot levels of stress agree well with experimental data for a carbon fiber-epoxy composite selected.