Abstract
Fracture toughness and critical energy release rate of polyester-reinforced glass fibres were investigated using linear elastic fracture mechanics approach. The effect of fibre volume fraction of chopped strand mat glass fibres in the matrix on the composite properties was considered. Finite-element analysis using FRANC2D/L was adopted for further verification. The results showed a dramatic increase in the values of fracture toughness and critical energy release rate with increasing fibre content. 60% vf of glass fibres enhanced the fracture toughness and critical energy release rate properties of neat polyester by ∼ 22-fold and 1200-fold, respectively. The numerical results showed an agreement with experimental ones.
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