Papers by Keyword: Fiber Reinforced Composite

Abstract: Fiber optimization is one of the key factors in fabricating fiber-reinforced composites. A higher amount of fiber loading does not correspond to improved mechanical and thermal properties of composites. Consequences such as poor fiber wetting, formation of voids, and delamination may arise due to the lower amount of matrix at higher fiber loading. In this study, the loading percentage of nito fibers were varied from 5, 10, and 15 wt%. The mechanical and thermal analysis showed that the composite with the lowest fiber loading percentage showed a better performance compared to the two composites with higher fiber loading. The tensile strength of the said composite increased by 3 MPa while the onset of degradation temperature increased by 30.91°C. The SEM micrographs confirmed that the composites with higher fiber loading percentage suffered poor wettability which resulted in poor adhesion of the fiber to the matrix. The micrographs of the composite with 5 wt% showed a superb fiber-matrix bonding which resulted in a more seamless transfer of heat and stress upon heat and load application. These results proved that optimization of fiber loading percentage is an integral step to fabricate an improved composite material.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced composite materials are increasingly present in areas such as automotive, aeronautics, defense, sport, used due to their special mechanical characteristics and very good behavior under heavy working conditions. New mold design techniques (such as 3D printing technologies), processing (such as the use of robotic technologies), open new opportunities for future challenges. This paper represents research on analysis techniques for the design of composite materials products made of fiber-reinforced, research on the use of devices with feedback loop for mechanical cutting technologies, which allow intelligent dynamic adjustment of the processing regimes, analysis of manufacturing technologies used as unconventional processes for the implementation of inclusion components, economic judgments on advantages, disadvantages of the techniques and methods used.

Abstract: Sharp V-notches with various angles often appear in engineering structures. When being loaded, the high stress at the apex could result in crack propagation on the structure and further fracture. For this reason, safety evaluation should be emphasized for products or engineering structures with such geometric characteristics. Sharp V-notches are regarded as wedge structures that the above situations seriously and often appear on brittle materials. Regarding the stress intensity factor K of the driving force for wedge structure failure, Chen, Dunn, and Seweryn, with numerical analysis for the fracture experiment, explained that the critical stress intensity factor K_c for single isotropic material fracture could be the intensity failure specification for wedge structures. Nevertheless, V-notched brittle materials are likely to receive great stress over the surface elastic energy of the structure when being loaded, causing brittle failure at the apex. When the high-strength and light-weight composite material is attached to reinforce the surface of brittle materials, the energy is reinforced to enhance the critical stress intensity factor of the overall structure, aiming to improve the failure of brittle materials resulted from stress singularity. This paper therefore tends to discuss the effects of the composite attachment, layer, and fiber reinforced direction on the critical stress intensity factor when the structure is being fractured.

Abstract: The direct fiber feeding injection molding (DFFIM) process is the new fabrication technique. This technique is able to eliminate the compounding process. In this study, the composite consisting of glass fiber/carbon fiber/ABS (GF/CF/ABS) were fabricated. Tensile, bending and Izod impact test were conducted to compare mechanical properties between glass fiber and glass fiber/carbon fiber hybrid composites. The additional of carbon fiber improved tensile, bending and impact properties of the hybrid composites. SEM photographs indicated that carbon fiber tended to agglomerate during DFFIM process. It can be noted that the low content of carbon fiber was suitable for enhanced mechanical performances of GF/CF/ABS hybrid composites.

Abstract: The objective of our work is to improve the mechanical stiffness of fiber reinforced laminates. The stiffness can be characterized by flexural and tensile moduli or their derivation. We applied design of experiments (DOE) to achieve our goals, because to solve the existing analytical and numerical models is complicated.We examined the effects of the following parameters: a) composition of reinforce materials (solely carbon, or carbon and glass combination), b) modulus of resin, c) mass ratio of resin-reinforcement, d) order of layers.The samples manufactured on the basis of DOE were investigated mechanically (flexural and tensile moduli measurements) and morphologically (scanning electron microscopy). We compared the measured modulus results to calculated values.

Abstract: For High altitude airship (HAA) with long time affected by space harsh environment, due to the occurrence of natural light radiation aging physical and mechanical properties, fiber-reinforced airship envelope material results in degradation of the mechanical load performance, even causing damage to the balloon airship. Based on the ground aging simulation of the airship envelope material under the natural light, the morphology of airship envelope material in the natural aging process can be observed and the specimen comparison test is carried on for its fracture strength and breaking elongation to qualify its mechanical properties. The specimens with the axial angle of 0°and 90°were respectively tested to get its mechanical properties and the comparative analysis on degradation of fracture strength and breaking elongation before and after its 720h aging is developed too. The test results shows that the mechanical properties of different specimens decrease, wherein the maximum degradation is 0° specimens and that of 90°specimens t is not very significant weakening. Natural aging characteristics of airship envelope material provide support for the design and improvement of anti-aging properties of the airship envelope material.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite has been studied and exploited for its excellent mechanical properties, low cost, and outstanding durability for many years. Traditional sluice gates are generally heavy, clumsy, and susceptible to corrosion. The application of fiber reinforced composite is an appealing alternative, which is cost-saving and environmental friendly. Proper design can make the new material gate maintain good mechanical performances and easier to install.

Abstract: Wind turbine blades are the major structural element and highest cost component in the wind power system. Modern wind turbine blade sizes are increasing, and the driving motivation behind this is to increase the efficiency and energy output per unit rotor area, and to reduce the cost per kilowatt hour. However due to the increase in size the material selection for wind turbine has become critical and complex. To achieve the desired materials to improve the design of wind turbine blades several factors such as high fatigue strength, less weight, less cost and potential of recycling must be focused. Basalt fiber is a relative newcomer to fiber reinforced polymers and structural composites. Basalt fiber with their excellent mechanical properties represents an interesting alternative composite material for modern wind turbine blades. Some manufacturers claim that basalt fiber has similar or better properties than S-2 glass fiber and its cheaper than carbon fiber. Basalt fiber together with carbon fiber are the most advanced and interesting area of hybrid technologies. This paper reviews extra ordinary properties of basalt fiber over other fiber reinforced composites and highlight how the basalt special properties together with carbon fiber will reduce the weight and cost of wind turbine blades while improving their performance. This paper also demonstrates why the basalt carbon hybrid composite material will be an ideal alternative for the wind turbine rotor blades.

Abstract: Two different E-glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite laminates having quasi isotropic [(+45/-45/0/90)₂]_S layup sequence were fabricated viz., GFRP with neat epoxy matrix (GFRP-neat) and GFRP with modified epoxy matrix (GFRP-nano) containing 9 wt. % of CTBN rubber micro-particles and 10 wt.% of silica nanoparticles. Standard fatigue test specimens were machined from the laminates and end-tabbed. Spectrum fatigue tests under a standard fighter aircraft load spectrum, mini-FALSTAFF, were conducted on both the composites at various reference stress levels and the experimental fatigue life expressed as number of blocks to fail, were determined. The stiffness of the specimen was determined from the load-displacement data acquired at regular intervals during the fatigue test. The matrix cracks development in the test specimens with fatigue cycling was determined through optical photographic images. The fatigue life of GFRP-nanocomposite under mini-FALSTAFF load sequence was observed to be enhanced by about four times when compared to that of GFRP-neat composite due to presence of micro-and nanoparticles in the matrix. The stiffness degradation rate and matrix crack density was considerably lower in GFRP-nanocomposite when compared to that of GFRP-neat composite. The underlying mechanisms for improved fatigue performance of GFRP-nanocomposite are discussed.