As the use of fiber-reinforced polymer composites grows in aerospace structures, there is an emerging need to implement damage tolerant approaches. The use of in-situ synchrotron X-ray tomography enables direct observations of progressive damage relative to the microstructural features, which are studied in a T650/5320 laminate composite with two layups via monotonic tension. Specifically, the interactions of micromechanical damage mechanisms at the notch tip were analyzed through 3D image processing as the crack grew. The analysis showed intralaminar cracking was dominant during crack initiation, delamination became prevalent during the later stages of crack progression, and fiber breakage was, in general, largely related to intralaminar cracking.
