Glass Fiber Composites Research Articles

An Experimental Investigations on Design and Weight Optimization for a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) Drive Shaft Using a Composite Material Aluminum and Glass Fiber (Al + GF)

Aluminum is primarily used in Metal Composites because of its lighter weight and higher strength. Glass fibers are wound around an aluminum shaft to create the composite. ANSYS results determine the relative amounts of aluminum and Eglass fiber in each shaft. The purpose of this study is to use a torsion test to evaluate the mechanical performance of a composite shaft composed of aluminum and glass fiber. The results are carefully examined for different combinations of glass fiber layers and aluminum layers. When the weight proportion of aluminum in the composite increases, the mechanical properties of the composites improve.

Correction to “Investigating the changing dynamics of processing, temperature‐based mechanics, and flame retardancy in the transfer of ammonium polyphosphate/inorganic silicate flame retardants from epoxy resins to glass fiber composites”

Correction to “Investigating the changing dynamics of processing, temperature‐based mechanics, and flame retardancy in the transfer of ammonium polyphosphate/inorganic silicate flame retardants from epoxy resins to glass fiber composites”

Repair overlays of modified polymer mortar containing glass powder and composite fibers-reinforced slag: mechanical properties, energy absorption, and adhesion to substrate concrete

This article aims to investigate the mechanical properties and substrate adhesion of the pull-off method in polymer mortars modified with styrene-butadiene resin polymer (SBR) containing glass powder and composite fiber-reinforced slag. Different mix designs were investigated with and without SBR, taking into account different amounts of glass powder and slag separately and in combination, along with the effect of glass, polypropylene, and steel fibers alone and in combination. The flexural performance and energy absorption of beams retrieved with these layers were also assessed. The results revealed significant differences and increases in the substrate adhesion of the restored modified polymer layers containing SBR compared to the polymer-free repair overlays. Furthermore, an improvement was observed in the adhesion performance of the repair overlay using a combination of slag and glass powder and the glass and polypropylene fiber composite. The highest adhesion was related to the modified polymer mortar design containing composite fibers of glass, polypropylene, and steel with 25% replacement of SBR polymer for 10% glass powder, 10% slag, and 5% slag with 5% glass powder. The adhesion was increased by about 3.74, 3.72, and 3.78 times compared to the repair overlay of the control design. Modified polymer mortars had a higher T150D toughness. Moreover, the energy absorption was significantly improved by the presence of SBR polymer. The highest toughness values were found in the beams restored with modified polymer mortars containing polypropylene, glass, and steel composite fibers with an increase of 48.51%–66.42% compared to the samples without polymer as a result of the pozzolans used in this mix.

In situ assembly enabling adhesive-free bonding of large area electronic sensors to concrete for structural health monitoring

Abstract Cracks developed in concrete infrastructure are one of the primary mechanisms that degrade their structural integrity, which may result in structural failures. Previous research on soft elastomeric capacitors (SEC) has shown their viability for structural health monitoring of structural materials, including concrete, steel, and fiberglass composites. The SEC, or its derivative version with a corrugated geometry termed corrugated SEC or cSEC, is a parallel plate capacitor. Prior work demonstrated that it was possible to directly paint the electrode interfacing with the structural material onto the structure and adhere the rest of the pre-fabricated sensor onto the wet interface, thereby eliminating the need for a joining epoxy. This demonstration was conducted on steel and fiberglass. The study on concrete was left to future work as concrete exhibits a much rougher surface and structure/sensor capacitive coupling, causing a significant amplification in signal noise. This study advances structural health monitoring in concrete applications by investigating the in situ assembly of the SEC on concrete where the carbon black (CB)-based electrode plate of the cSEC is directly painted onto the concrete surface and serves as both the adhesive and electrode for the sensor. A series of free-vibration and compression tests were designed and conducted to evaluate the sensing performance of in situ assembled cSEC compared to that of an epoxy-bonded cSEC. Additionally, the bonding strength of the in situ assembled and epoxy-bonded cSEC is evaluated through a peel test. Results show good strain sensing capabilities of the in situ assembled SEC with an R 2 value of 0.986 and a resolution of 45 ± μ ε . Even though the epoxied cSEC demonstrated a higher bonding strength than the in situ assembled cSEC, the in situ assembled cSEC demonstrated adequate bonding strength for the application. This research contributes to the scientific understanding of sensor adhesion and opens avenues for practical applications in infrastructure monitoring, potentially leading to more resilient and sustainable urban environments.

Dynamic fracture characterization of glass fiber composites reinforced with through-thickness nylon fibers

ABSTRACT A detailed experimental study is performed to investigate the mode-I dynamic fracture initiation toughness of through-thickness Nylon fibers reinforced glass/epoxy composites using a wet electrostatic flocking method. Composites of a double cantilever beam specimen configuration of two different deniers 1.5D and 3D of 0.75 mm long Nylon fibers with two different fiber densities 150 and 300 fiber/mm2 and composites without Nylon fibers (control) are fabricated. The dynamic fracture initiation toughness is investigated by using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar setup with a novel fixture in conjunction with a high-speed video camera. In addition, rate sensitivity on dynamic fracture initiation toughness is also investigated for control and composites of 1.5D with fiber density of 300 fibers/mm2 as a function of three different rates of dynamic fracture toughness ( G ˙ = 1500, 2010, and 2,150 kJ/m2/s). Results show that for the composite of 3D–0.75 mm Nylon fiber, G IC values reach 0.78 kJ/m2 (110% increase) and 1.3 kJ/m2 (250% increase) at flock densities of 150 and 300 fibers/mm2 compared to the control sample with the lowest G IC value at 0.37 kJ/m2. The same pattern is observed for a 1.5D–0.75 mm configuration at the flock fiber density of 150 fiber/mm2 where G IC value demonstrates a 75% increase compared to control conditions. The dynamic fracture initiation toughness of flocked composites demonstrates significant rate sensitivity.

Flat silk cocoons: A candidate material for fabricating lightweight and impact-resistant composites

The utilization of silk cocoons in the production of lightweight and tough composites has been gaining increasing attention. However, the limited applications of normal silk cocoons (NSC) are attributed to their small size and irregular shape. To overcome this deficiency, flat silk cocoons (FSC) with a similar structure and controllable size were prepared. Next, we systematically characterized and compared the microstructures, morphologies, compositions, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of FSC with NSC. Subsequently, FSC was successfully utilized to fabricate a novel silk fibroin fiber reinforced sericin matrix composite (HPFSC) using a hot pressing method, followed by the analysis of its microstructure evolution, mechanical properties, failure modes, and theoretical modeling. This composite has outstanding mechanical properties including hardness, modulus, and strength. HPFSC has a relatively low density of ~1.3 g/cm3, whose absorbed impact energy can reach a maximum value of 11.1 J/mm, exceeding that of most engineering materials, such as aluminum alloy, ceramics, glass, and carbon fiber composites. The exceptional performance of HPFSC can be attributed to the reduced porosity, enhanced bonding between silk fibroin fibers facilitated by sericin, and their structural transformation. This study offers valuable guidance for the fabrication of lightweight and impact-resistant composites using flat silk cocoons.

Numerical Investigation of the Effects of Impactor Geometry on Impact Behavior of Sandwich Structures

The aim of this study is to examine the impact performance and damage behavior of sandwich composite structures with a core material of aluminum and a facesheet of glass fiber composites using the finite element method. In the study, the effects of impactor shape, impact velocity and number of core layers on peak force, absorbed energy efficiency, maximum displacement and damage deformation were examined. For low velocity impact simulation, progressive damage analysis was performed based on the Hashin damage criterion using the MAT 54 material model in the LS DYNA finite element program. While providing the connection between the core structure and its surfaces, a Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) based on the bilinear traction-separation law was created and examined. At the end of the study, it was determined that the shape of the impactor had a significant effect on impact resistance. Energy absorption efficiency may vary as impact energy changes. However, as the impact energy increases, the energy absorption efficiency increases. It was determined that the largest and dominant damage type for all three impactors was matrix damage.

Tensile Properties of Open Hole and Unhole Sugar Palm ‘Ijuk’ (SPI) Fibre Composite Treated with Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

This study evaluates the effects of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment on tensile properties of sugar palm 'ijuk' (SPI) fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, with and without an open hole that acts as a stress concentrator. The NaOH treatment is aimed to improve the interfacial adhesion between SPI fibres and polymer matrix. Composite specimens were prepared using the hand lay-up method, incorporating SPI fibres in various orientations, and featuring a 6 mm diameter hole. Tensile tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of SPI FRP composite, including ultimate tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break. The research also compared the properties of SPI to those of synthetic glass fibre in fibre-reinforced polymer composites. The results showed that NaOH treatment significantly improves the fibre-matrix adhesion with 26% increase in tensile strength, leading to enhanced tensile properties in both samples, regardless of hole presence. The 0° orientation provides the highest strength and stiffness when the load is applied in the direction of the fibres. While for the 90° orientation, strength reduces by 14%. The impact of the hole on stress concentration and the subsequent mechanical behaviour of the open-hole specimens is substantial. The findings of this study offer insightful perspectives on the potential use ofNaOH-treated SPI fibre in structural and other applications, demonstrating its ability to withstand tensile stresses, even with geometric discontinuities like holes.

Micro-buckling resistant unidirectional glass fiber composites with excellent transverse and longitudinal flexural properties from cross-linking by nano-/micro-aramid fibers

This study aims at obtaining an effective structural design strategy for stronger and more reliable Unidirectional glass fiber (UD-GF) composites by in-situ formed cross-linking from randomly distributed nano-/micro- Aramid pulp (AP) fibers. The flexural strength and stiffness have shown substantial improvements in both the transverse and longitudinal directions due to the AP cross-linking and the “brick-slurry” structure. With AP of 8 g/m2, up to 60–70 % improvement in flexural strengths (both transverse and longitudinal directions) and up to 20–37 % improvement in “effective modulus” have been observed. The noticeable longitudinal improvements have been attributed to the resin reinforcement and interlayer cross-linking provided by ultra-thin AP interlayers, and the resultant improvement in micro-buckling resistance under compression. Since sparsely distributed nano-/micro-AP can be readily incorporated in pultrusion and pre-preg manufacturing processes, this study is not only important for micro-mechanism study, but also provides a plausible improvement in manufacturing.

Flexible and anisotropically conductive film by assembly of silicone rubber and cobalt-coated glass fiber composites

In this study, we prepared electromagnetic cobalt-coated glass fiber (Co@GF) composites via an electroless plating method. Subsequently, a conductive sandwich flexible film consisting of Co@GF composites and liquid silicone rubber (RTV-2) was successfully formed using the tape casting method at room temperature. Based on the perfect coating and excellent electrical conductivity of the Co@GF composites, the resultant RTV-2/Co@GF/RTV-2 sandwich flexible film showed a low volume resistivity of 0.264 Ω·cm and could stretch to 100% (of 4.40 Ω·cm) without obvious fracture. When a magnetic field was applied during the curing process, the electromagnetic Co@GF composites were aligned automatically in the RTV-2 matrix because of their ferromagnetic nature. The as-prepared film exhibited anisotropy in its electrical performance. The volume resistivity parallel to the magnetic field direction is approximately two times lower than that in the perpendicular direction. The maximum difference in the volume resistivity (ρ∥ = 0.768 Ω·cm and ρ⊥ = 1.549 Ω·cm) was obtained at a magnetic field intensity of 800 mT. In addition, a magnetic field intensity of 100 mT helps improve the electrical conductivity of the as-obtained sandwich film. The anisotropic RTV-2/Co@GF/RTV-2 sandwich flexible film is considered a promising flexible electronic sensor, where discrepant inductive sensitivity is required in orthogonal directions.

Non-planar additive manufacturing of pre-impregnated continuous fiber reinforced composites using a three-axis printer

Non-planar additive manufacturing (AM) demonstrates great potential in enhancing interlayer bonding force and surface smoothness of parts, offering a more flexible design and manufacturing approach for continuous fiber composites to fully exploit material capabilities. This study developed a three-axis printer utilizing an adjustable fiber printing head that can achieve non-planar slicing (NPS) AM of pre-impregnated continuous fibers. The research delves into the influence of deposition inclined angle on the surface roughness of printed samples, enabling the design and printing of NPS samples using continuous carbon fiber (CF), glass fiber (GF), and hybrid fiber composites. The investigation also assesses bending failure morphologies of the printed parts and validates the efficacy of the NPS method through the fabrication of the double-sinusoidal curved surface structure and spherical surface grid structure. The results indicated that maintaining a deposition inclined angle below 15° is crucial to ensure surface accuracy in continuous fiber printed parts. Curved surface bending samples printed with NPS method exhibit substantial enhancements in bending performance and surface accuracy compared to those produced using planar slicing (PS). The NPS-CF sample achieves a remarkable increase of over 170% in maximum bending force and a 63% reduction in surface roughness compared to the PS-CF sample.

Numerical simulation analysis of thermoelectric coupling of glass fiber composites damaged by lightning strike

Abstract Lightning damage of composite materials is one of the research hotspots in the field of lightning protection in recent years. In order to study the lightning damage characteristics of glass fiber composite materials, the thermal and electrical coupling finite element analysis model of composite materials was established through the secondary development of ABAQUS software, and the USDFLD subroutine was added to the thermoelectric coupling module. The damage characteristics of composite laminates under lightning strikes are simulated. When the composite material is hit by lightning, the resistance will be heated to produce high temperature. Judging the damage degree of the composite material based on temperature, it is found that the lightning damage is mainly concentrated in the early stage of lightning current loading, and the lightning energy in the early stage is large, which causes the high temperature damage of the laminates. The lightning electric field is distributed symmetrically in the direction of the fiber with the highest electrical conductivity.

Construction of fiber-reinforced composites with high-thickness: Achieving enhanced interfacial and mechanical properties through upconversion particles assisted near-infrared photopolymerizaton

Glass fiber reinforced polymer-based composites prepared by photocuring technology offer notable advantages. However, the traditional UV curing technology faces challenges in balancing curing efficiency, penetration depth, and mechanical properties when producing high-thickness fiber-reinforced composites. This study introduced a new method for crafting thick glass fiber reinforced composites via upconversion particle-assisted near-infrared photopolymerization (UCAP). Near-infrared (NIR) radiation had superior penetration in glass fiber composites system, effectively curing of specimens exceeding 20 mm in thickness. Through micro-CT and atomic force microscopy, it was verified that UCAP specimens had fewer interfacial defects and a wider interphase, making contribution to enhanced interlaminar and interfacial shear strength. Additionally, uniform curing effectively alleviated stress concentration under external forces, resulting in a 78.5 % increase in flexural strength and a 32.1 % increase in impact toughness for UCAP specimens compared to UV-cured ones. This approach facilitated rapid outdoor curing of large-sized glass fiber composites with sustained structural stability, showcasing the potential application of UCAP in high-performance glass fiber composites rapid prototyping.

Real-time microwave transmittance variation of glass fiber composites subjected to laser irradiation

Laser irradiation may have a significant impact on the microwave transmission properties of glass fiber composites. In this study, a two-dimensional microwave transmission transient model of glass fiber composites during the complete laser irradiation process was developed. The numerical results indicate that carbonization during irradiation causes a significant increase in dielectric loss, thus resulting in a decrease in transmittance. After irradiation, the dielectric loss decreased due to the decrease in temperature, which, in turn, led to an increase in transmittance. The increased transmittance after cooling was lower than the original value due to the generation of pyrolytic carbon with a high dielectric loss. The numerical results were verified by conducting an experiment wherein the microwave transmittance of glass fiber composites was measured in real time before, during, and after laser irradiation. In addition, the effects of different laser parameters on the real-time microwave transmittance during laser irradiation were investigated experimentally and numerically. For the same total energy, a laser with a high power density and short irradiation time had a more significant effect on the attenuation of transmittance.

Development and mechanical properties evaluation of environmentally sustainable composite material using various reinforcements with epoxy

In this study, the mechanical properties of advanced composites fabricated by the hand lay-up process were investigated. The mechanical properties evaluated in this study included tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength. Tensile tests were performed to measure the resistance of the composites to pulling forces, while flexural tests assessed their resistance to bending. Impact tests, on the other hand, determine the material's ability to absorb sudden forces or shocks. Results showed that all the composite materials exhibited high tensile strength, with the Carbon fiber epoxy composite displaying the highest value due to the exceptional strength of carbon fibers. In terms of flexural strength, the Glass-Fiber Polymer Matrix composite demonstrated the highest resistance to bending, while the Kevlar-Epoxy composite exhibited the highest impact strength, owing to the unique properties of Kevlar fibers, which offer excellent energy absorption capabilities. In the hardness test, the Kevlar composite to epoxy matrix showed hardness from HRB 105 to HRB 125 an increase of 19.04 %, while fiberglass increased hardness by 14.2 % and carbon fiber by 16.3 %. The Impact test shows that the Kevlar composite to epoxy matrix showed hardness from HRB 105 to HRB 125 an increase of 19.04 %, while fiberglass increased hardness by 14.2 % and carbon fiber by 16.3 %. Kevlar reinforcing composite produced the highest flexural strength, compared to neat epoxy by 91.7 %. Carbon fibre composites were 52.5 % higher, whereas glass fibre composites were 15.6 % higher. SEM imaging results from the cross-sections show that the best bonding between the base material and the fibers was observed for Kevlar reinforced with epoxy. All mechanical test showed that Kevlar (Aramid fiber) provides excellent mechanical properties when compared to carbon fibre and glass fibre. Hence, Kevlar (aramid fiber) can be an option for preparing light weight helmets, automobiles, aeronautics, safety equipments etc.

Nanocomposites of Glass/Sisal Fibre Strengthened Hybrid Polymer Matrix and the Effect of SiC Nanofillers on its Mechanical Features

Introduction: This study investigates the mechanical characteristics of hybrid sisal fibre (SF)/glass fibre (GF) reinforced composites with various weight % of nSiC fillers (nano silicon carbide). SF/GF/nSiC reinforced hybrid composite materials were developed following ASTM specifications using the vacuum infusion technique. Method: The resulting composites were then evaluated for their tensile, impact, hardness, and flexural characteristics. The findings reveal that none of the composites can imitate the GF composite's mechanical advantages despite hybridization and the nanofiller addition. The hybrid composite laminates with 2 wt.% nSiC show better mechanical response than competing hybrid composites. Results: The GF/SF/2%nSiC composite's impact strength and shore D hardness of the GF/SF/2%nSiC composite are 1.25 and 1.2 times greater than those of the GF/SF/3%nSiC composites. The GF/SF/2%nSiC composites exhibit 1.64, 1.5, and 1.8 times higher tensile strength, tensile modulus, and toughness modulus than the GF/SF/3%nSiC composites. The GF/SF/2%nSiC composite has a flexural modulus and strength of 1.22 and 1.41 times higher than the GF/SF/3%nSiC composites. Conclusion: The improved mechanical properties of the GF/SF/2%nSiC composite can be attributed to the firm bond between the fibre and matrix, the uniform dispersion of nanofillers, and reduced porosity. result: The tensile, impact, hardness, and flexural properties of the developed composites were assessed. SEM of the fractured surface was also performed to corroborate the results and determine the fracture mode.

Application of lightweight materials in automobiles: A review

Due to increasing challenges on carbon emissions, there is increased demand for more fuel economic vehicles; weight reduction, an attractive strategy for increasing fuel efficiency, has become prevalent in automobile design. This paper provides a review on weaved carbon fiber composites, long fiber carbon fiber composites, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and glass fiber composites. They are assessed on strength, durability, corrosion resistance, and processing difficulty, to determine whether they can be used in lightweight automobile components. Numerous methods can be used to enhance the mechanical properties and ease of processing of these materials, to make them more appropriate for use. However, the materials all have their specific downsides like high weight, difficulties in processing, low corrosion resistance, or poor fatigue properties. We concluded that the materials are suitable for usage in automotives after undergoing specific Manufacturers should consider the relevance of these advantages and disadvantages to the application of materials in specific parts of the automobile.

Investigation of Drilling Performances, Tribological and Mechanical Behaviors of GFRC Filled with B4C and Gr

AbstractIn this study, the effects of Gr and B4C filler materials on drilling performance, mechanical, and tribological behaviors of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites were experimentally investigated. Glass fiber-reinforced composite materials filled with B4C and Gr at different weight ratios (5%, 10%, and 15%) were manufactured using hand lay-up method. The produced composite materials underwent various tests, including mechanical tests (tensile and flexural tests), tribological tests (wear behavior), and drilling tests under different parameters. Additionally, SEM images of the worn and fractured surfaces were examined. The addition of both B4C and Gr fillers adversely affected the mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced composites. It was observed that tensile and flexural strengths decreased with increasing filler ratios. However, the addition of B4C and Gr fillers enhanced the wear resistance of glass fiber-reinforced composites. It was revealed that in drilling operations, as the feed rate increased, the thrust forces increased, while the cutting speed increased, the thrust forces decreased. It was determined that delamination values in glass fiber reinforced composites decreased as the feed rate increase, while delamination values increased as the cutting speed increased. Generally, the thrust forces, vibration, delamination, and moment values obtained during the drilling of B4C-filled glass fiber composites were found to be higher compared to Gr-filled glass fiber composites.

Development and characterization of hybrid polymer composite materials with reinforcement of glass/carbon fibers for enhanced mechanical properties: an experimental and numerical approach

Composite materials, particularly fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP), are used in aerospace and automotive industries due to their desirable properties and surpassing traditional metals in various applications. Researchers are countering the drawbacks of using a single fiber type in FRP by creating hybrid composites that combine different fibers in a single matrix. These hybrids harness the cost-effectiveness and corrosion resistance of glass fibers alongside the strength and stiffness of carbon fibers, resulting in a balanced combination of properties for various applications. Tensile tests were performed according to the ASTM D3039 standard, with a 2 mm/min strain rate. The results showed that increasing the carbon fiber percentage (6.56%, 13.79%, and 21.07%) led to significant improvements in the tensile strength of the hybrid composites (34.18%, 55.44%, and 85.40% higher than glass fiber composites). However, changing the stacking sequence did not significantly affect tensile strength, indicating its insignificance in this regard. Numerical simulations were conducted to validate the experimental results, and the errors between experimental and numerical data were below 10% for various stacking sequences. These discrepancies were attributed to factors such as fiber waviness, which resulted in heterogeneous property distribution within the composites, and the manufacturing process used for creating the hybrid composites. Scanning electron microscope analysis was also performed to study the failure modes on the fracture surface of the tensile-tested specimens.

Correlative Investigation on Dielectric-Mechanical-Morphological Characteristic for Kenaf-Glass-Hybrid Fibers Reinforced Epoxy Composite

In recent years, there are many applications where synthetic fibers and natural fibers are used as reinforcing materials in composites, such as the automotive and aerospace industries, the medical industry, and the construction industry. While these hybrid fibers effectively enhance mechanical and electrical properties, research into electrical characteristics remains inadequate and is an ongoing endeavor. In this work, synthetic woven glass fibers and natural woven kenaf fibers were used to fabricate composite materials by vacuum infusion technique. The dielectric properties of three different substrates, glass fibers, kenaf fibers and glass/kenaf fibers reinforced epoxy composites were investigated at 0° orientation. The ENA Network Analyzer was used to measure dielectric properties in a wide microwave frequency range. The substrates were single-joint overlapped with an adhesive and then mechanically tested. The shear strength of the joint as a function of strain, was tested using a Shimadzu universal testing machine. Visual inspections were performed to determine the failure modes of the composites. The dielectric constant and loss factor of the glass fiber composite were the highest, while the kenaf fiber composite had the lowest value. When a small amount of glass fibers is incorporated into kenaf fibers, which is called a hybrid composite, the polarization increases and the mechanical strength also increases compared to the kenaf fiber composite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the fractured tensile tests was performed to understand the nature of the interfaces between glass, kenaf and matrix. The kenaf/matrix interface was heterogeneous but exhibited voids, resulting in low dielectric properties and mechanical strength. By inserting a small amount of glass fibers, the hybrid with kenaf fibers improve the dielectric constant by 20.7% and the dielectric loss factor by 27% compared with the kenaf fiber composite. The results also show that the composites exhibit a correlation between the dielectric properties, tensile strength, and the morphological nature of the interfaces.