Effect of hybridization on the mechanical performance and cost efficiency of carbon/flax bio‐hybrid composites

The current study used the vacuum‐assisted hand lay‐up method (VAHLM) to manufacture glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP), carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP), and glass/carbon fiber‐reinforced hybrid composites to examine the influences of fiber materials and hybridization on the repeated low‐velocity impact (LVI) responses. In this regard, the manufactured composites were exposed to repeated LVI loading at 3 m/s under 25.2 J impact energy, and thus dynamic characteristics such as total impulse, contact/bending stiffness, interaction time, peak force/displacement, and absorbed‐rebounded energies depending on the impact number were acquired. LVI tests were continued until penetration was observed in the composites, at which point the penetration threshold numbers for each composite type were acquired. Furthermore, the macro‐scale damage analyses depending on the impact number were gradually examined, and the impacts of hybridization and fiber material on the damage mechanisms were determined. The study found that GFRP, hybrid and CFRP composites had the highest impact resistance, respectively, and that glass fiber‐reinforcement is well‐suited for applications that require higher impact resistance. When the average penetration threshold numbers for the composites were examined, it was observed that GFRP composites had approximately five times higher penetration threshold numbers than CFRP composites and that hybrid specimens exhibited similar properties to CFRP composites in terms of impact resistance. This scenario was linked to the various deformation capabilities of glass and carbon fibers, and it was concluded that the high‐deformation capability of the fibers improved the penetration threshold numbers.Highlights Effects of hybridization and fiber material on LVI responses were examined. Fiber material has a significant influence on impact resistance. Penetration threshold number can be associated with the fibers' strain capability. The adhesion factor plays an active role in the damage of hybrid specimens.

Comparison of the dynamic characteristics of GFRP, CFRP, and hybrid composites subjected to repeated low‐velocity impact

Sozen,

Coskun,

Kapıcı

et al. 2024

Crushing responses of carbon/glass hybrid composite tubes under dynamic compressive loads

Wang,

Chen,

Xiao

et al. 2024

In this study, the axial crushing response and energy‐absorbing mechanisms of circular composite tubes, which were reinforced by carbon fiber (C10) and carbon/glass hybrids (C3G4C3), were investigated experimentally and numerically. Both samples exhibited similar crushing responses comprising delamination and intralayer shear failure. The impact kinetic energy is primarily converted into frictional and composite damage energies. C3G4C3 had poorer crashworthiness with a mean crushing force and specific energy absorption of 313.3 kN and 58.0 kJ/kg, which are by 39.3% and 30.8% less, respectively, than those of C10. The influence of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) content (hybrid ratio) and stacking sequence on tubal crashworthiness was investigated numerically. For composite tubes with a hybrid ratio of 40%, the central distribution of GFRP (C3G4C3) achieved optimal energy absorption performance. Additionally, when GFRP layers were centralized stacked, a reduction of the hybrid ratio from 60% (G3C4G3) to 20% (GC8G) helped improve the crashworthiness of the hybrid tubes, where the mean crushing force increased by 23%.Highlights Impact responses of composite tubes reinforced by carbon fiber and carbon/glass hybrids were investigated experimentally and numerically. Carbon/glass hybrid tubes exhibited lower crashworthiness. The effects of stacking sequence and hybrid ratio on the energy absorption performance were studied.

Analysis of mechanical and vibration properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites with SiO₂/Al₂O₃ micron particles

Han,

Shi,

Hua

et al. 2024

SiO2 and Al2O3 micron particle effects on the mechanical and vibration properties of carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites were systematically investigated by incorporating these particles into the epoxy resin. CFRP laminates were prepared by adding various weight fractions (0–10 wt. %) of micron particles to the epoxy resin. The influence of cutout shape and the angle (θcf) between square cutout and fiber orientation on the vibrational performance of CFRP laminates were investigated. As the particle weight fraction (PWF) increased, the tensile, bending, interlaminar shear, and vibration properties of CFRP initially improved and then declined. The flexure strength of samples with 4 wt. % SiO2 and Al2O3 particles increased by 11.70%. The samples with 8 wt. % SiO2 and Al2O3 particles exhibited the highest damping ratio, which was 4.59 times greater than that of the samples without particles. The cutout shape and θcf influence the vibration performance of CFRP laminates. For the rectangular cutout, the sample with θcf = 22.5° exhibits the highest damping ratio, exceeding those at 0° and 45° by 2.28% and 7.10%, respectively.Highlights Three‐roll milling can disperse 4 wt.% particles in resin. SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ particles improve mechanical properties of CFRP. SiO2 and Al2O3 particles increased the damping ratio of CFRP by 359.22%. Circular cutout minimally reduces the first‐order natural frequency of CFRP. Angle between rectangular cutout and fiber affects CFRP vibrational properties.