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An experimental study was conducted to characterize the interlaminar fracture behaviour of 2-D woven fabric reinforced epoxy composites under mode I loading using double cantilever beam tests. A large displacement, small strain non-linear beam model was used to calculate the interlaminar fracture toughness. The fabrics used included fibreglass and Kevlar woven structures with different weave patterns. An attempt was made to enhance the composite interlaminar toughness by adding different types of microfibres into the matrix. Toughening mechanisms of the composites were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the weave patterns of fabrics exhibited a strong influence on the interlaminar fracture behaviour, and that the addition of the microfibres to the epoxy matrix could improve the interlaminar fracture toughness significantly.
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