Investigation Of Mode II Interlaminar Fracture Toughness Of Silicon-Di-Oxide Filled Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Fracture is a new failure mode due to unstable propagation of a delamination crack growth in composite structures caused by applied load. The efficient characterization of the crack growth in composite structures enhances to estimate the duration of life. This paper mainly focusses on characterization of the fracture toughness of GFRP/epoxy matrix with SiO<sub>2</sub> filler form of composites and studying the crack behaviour in the (Mode II) ENF specimen which leads to interlaminar fracture in structural applications. The laminates are arranged to specify the Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness and interlaminar shear strength of GFRP/ epoxy matrix, GFRP/5% wt SiO2, GFRP/10% wt SiO<sub>2</sub>, using ASTM D7905 M-14 and JIS test methods. The results show that unfilled SiO<sub>2</sub> GFRP/epoxy matrix composites are of more facture toughness; the result reveals that the JIS methods in plane shear Mode II test were lower value of fracture toughness than that of ASTM D7905 M-14 Mode II test. As recommend in ASTM standard, ENF (shear pre-cracked) specimen is applicable to measure Mode II fracture toughness.