Interlaminar shear behavior of unidirectional glass fiber (U)/random glass fiber (R)/epoxy hybrid and non-hybrid composite laminates

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Engineering, 2012-06, Vol.43 (4), p.1714-1719
• Main Authors: Selmy, A.I., Elsesi, A.R., Azab, N.A., Abd El-baky, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. Polymer–matrix hybrid composites (PMCs); Applied sciences; B. Mechanical properties; Composites; D. Mechanical testing; E. Lay-up (manual); epoxides; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; glass fibers; Laminates; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; shear strength; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.01.031

The interlaminar shear behavior of unidirectional glass fiber (U)/random glass fiber (R)/epoxy hybrid composites was studied with short beam shear bending test. Random glass fiber (R)/epoxy means chopped fiber composite having short discontinuous fiber randomly dispersed in epoxy matrix. The effect of stacking sequence and unidirectional glass fiber relative volume fraction (VfU/VfT) on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the manufactured composites has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The laminates were fabricated by hand lay-up technique with 5 plies. Two non-hybrid composite laminates [R]5 and [U]5 were fabricated using the same fabrication technique for the comparison purpose. The average thickness of the manufactured laminates is 5.5±0.2mm and the total fiber volume fraction (VfT) is 37%. Failure modes of all specimens were investigated. Experimental results indicated that the ILSS of [U]5 is higher than those of hybrid and [R]5 composite. Hybrid composites have higher ILSS than that of random composites. The stacking sequence and (VfU/VfT) ratio have a detectable effect on ILSS of the investigated composites.