Comprehensive analysis of in-plane tensile characteristics of hybrid composite using finite element method

Abstract

In recent times, there has been a growing need within the automotive and aerospace sectors for materials that possess certain characteristics, including elevated strength, reduced density, and economic viability. Entrepreneurs and researchers have been actively investigating novel methodologies to create materials that exhibit enhanced characteristics, while concurrently mitigating the expenses associated with their production. Polymer, a material that has garnered attention from engineers, is being increasingly employed in the fabrication of composite materials. In order to comprehend and enhance the characteristics of composites, as well as to effectively tackle the diverse array of factors that impact these characteristics, it is imperative to engage in both manufacturing and testing processes. Therefore, the utilization of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) methodologies, specifically the Finite Element Method (FEM), has become an essential component in the process of designing and analyzing composite materials. The utilization of ANSYS Material Designer enables the implementation of finite element analysis to accurately examine the microscale structure of the material. The main aim of this research was to assess the tensile characteristics of hybrid composites that were strengthened by a combination of carbon and natural fibers. The findings of this study indicate that various factors, such as the volume fraction of fibers, the specific type of fiber reinforcement, the arrangement of layers, and the orientation of individual plies, have a substantial impact on the characteristics of composite materials. In a particular investigation centered on altered stacking sequences of composite materials, it was observed that a stacking sequence of [C/F/C]2 s-[0°/90°/0°]2 s displayed the greatest tensile strength compared to other stacking configurations. This stacking sequence achieved a maximum tensile strength of 3319.50 MPa. The elastic properties of the composites were evaluated in the investigation using ANSYS composite modeling. The results obtained from this analysis exhibited a high degree of agreement with the theoretical calculations.