Effect of Hybridization and Ply Waviness on the Flexural Strength of Polymer Composites: An Experimental and Numerical Study

Abstract

The study aims to ascertain the influence of hybridisation and ply waviness on the flexural behaviour of polymer composites. Two different resin systems, namely epoxy and Poly(methyl methacrylate)-PMMA, were chosen for the study, wherein two batches of carbon/glass hybrid composites (CGHC) were fabricated with the two resin systems. In addition to CGHC samples, four other neat batches with waviness (glass/epoxy and glass/PMMA) were prepared to study the effect of out-of-plane ply waviness. Two sets were additionally made with in-plane waviness (angles ranging from 15–35°) with epoxy to further understand the effect of waviness on flexural behaviour. Thereafter, two more batches of samples with neither waviness nor hybrid architectures were tested to achieve a better understanding of hybridization and the presence of waviness. It was seen that the hybridization of polymer composites introduces a pseudo-ductile behaviour in brittle composites, which makes the failure more predictable. An energy-based model was implemented to quantify the ductility introduced by hybridization. The presence of in-plane waviness increased the flexural load but reduced the modulus considerably. The presence of out-of-plane waviness decreased the flexural properties of composites drastically, though the displacement rate was seen to increase considerably. From the comparison between epoxy and PMMA, it was seen that PMMA exhibited similar flexural properties vis-à-vis epoxy. PMMA is easy to re-cycle and thus could serve as an ideal replacement for epoxy resin. Finally, a numerical model was built based on an LS-DYNA commercial solver; the model predicted the flexural behaviour close to what was seen in the experiments. The model could be calibrated correctly by ascertaining the influence of failure strain in the longitudinal direction, which is fibre dependent, and the failure strain in the transverse direction, which is matrix dependent.

Techniques of creating in-plane fiber waviness in composites and its mechanical performance – a review

“…The in-plane fiber waviness dominates the flexural load-carrying ability of FRP composites. However, in-plane fiber waviness have some advantageous impacts on composites as discussed by Sharath P. S et al [44] the presence of in-plane fiber waviness greatly increased the load and drop in flexural modulus. A rise in shear modulus G xy because of in-plane fiber waviness is observed.…”

Combined effect of fiber hybridization and matrix modification on mechanical properties of polymer composites

“…11 Czél 12 hybridized glass and CF to create a pseudo-ductile composite for safer structural applications. Subadra and Paulius 13 reported enhanced ductility in the flexural loading of hybrid specimens. Synergistic hybrid effects of glass/ carbon composites under low-velocity impact loading were addressed by Lyu et al 14 Fiber hybridization 15 is a wise way to combine the superior properties of constituent fibers while eliminating their disadvantageous weaknesses.…”