Study of mechanical properties of composite materials reinforced with aluminum fibers

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical properties of composite materials reinforced with aluminum fibers of varying lengths and concentrations. The research aims to evaluate the effects of fiber reinforcement on both flexural and compressive strengths, using fibers of three distinct lengths (2×20 mm, 2×30 mm, and 2×40 mm) and four different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) by weight within the composite matrix. Mechanical tests were performed after 28 and 56 days of curing to assess the influence of fiber reinforcement over time. The results demonstrate that increasing fiber length and concentration generally improves the flexural and compressive strengths, with the most notable gains observed at moderate fiber content. However, the study also finds that excessively high fiber percentages may lead to diminishing returns in strength performance, possibly due to fiber agglomeration or stress concentration effects. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing the design of fiber-reinforced composite materials for various structural applications, enhancing both performance and material efficiency.