scholarly journals Interface Controlled Micro- and Macro-Mechanical Properties of Vibration Processed Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2764
Author(s):  
Xiaobo Yang ◽  
Lihua Zhan ◽  
Yifeng Peng ◽  
Cong Liu ◽  
Rui Xiong

The fiber-resin interface is an important component that significantly affects mechanical properties of composites. Random vibration-assisted vacuum processing (RVAVP), a new method to improve the adhesion of the fiber-resin interface, was presented. The effects of different curing processes on mechanical properties were comprehensively assessed by combining the fiber push-out test, finite element model simulation, cure monitoring approach, and short-beam three-point bending test, and the correlation between fiber volume fraction and mechanical properties was quantified by a facile thermogravimetric analysis-based methodology. The results revealed that application of random vibration during the curing process can promote the impregnation of resin into fibers and impede the growth of interface defects while improving mechanical properties at the same time. For this reason, the laminates produced by RVAVP exhibited the average interfacial shear strength of 78.02 MPa and the average interface fracture toughness of 51.7 J/m2, which is obtained a 48.26% and 90.77% improvement compared with the 0 MPa autoclave process. With the large observed increase in micro-mechanical properties, the average interlaminar shear strength of 93.91 MPa showed a slight reduction of 5.07% compared with the 0.6 MPa autoclave process. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties tended to be stable at the fiber volume fraction of 65.5%.

2021 ◽  
pp. 002199832110047
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Mohamed ◽  
Siddhartha Brahma ◽  
Haibin Ning ◽  
Selvum Pillay

Fiber prestressing during matrix curing can significantly improve the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced polymer composites. One primary reason behind this improvement is the generated compressive residual stress within the cured matrix, which impedes cracks initiation and propagation. However, the prestressing force might diminish progressively with time due to the creep of the compressed matrix and the relaxation of the tensioned fiber. As a result, the initial compressive residual stress and the acquired improvement in mechanical properties are prone to decline over time. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the mechanical properties of the prestressed composites as time proceeds. This study monitors the change in the tensile and flexural properties of unidirectional prestressed glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites over a period of 12 months after manufacturing. The composites were prepared using three different fiber volume fractions 25%, 30%, and 40%. The results of mechanical testing showed that the prestressed composites acquired an initial increase up to 29% in the tensile properties and up to 32% in the flexural properties compared to the non-prestressed counterparts. Throughout the 12 months of study, the initial increase in both tensile and flexural strength showed a progressive reduction. The loss ratio of the initial increase was observed to be inversely proportional to the fiber volume fraction. For the prestressed composites fabricated with 25%, 30%, and 40% fiber volume fraction, the initial increase in tensile and flexural strength dropped by 29%, 25%, and 17%, respectively and by 34%, 26%, and 21%, respectively at the end of the study. Approximately 50% of the total loss took place over the first month after the manufacture, while after the sixth month, the reduction in mechanical properties became insignificant. Tensile modulus started to show a very slight reduction after the fourth/sixth month, while the flexural modulus reduction was observed from the beginning. Although the prestressed composites displayed time-dependent losses, their long-term mechanical properties still outperformed the non-prestressed counterparts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 879 ◽  
pp. 284-293
Author(s):  
Norliana Bakar ◽  
Siew Choo Chin

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) made from synthetic fiber had been widely used for strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures in the past decades. Due to its high cost, detrimental to the environment and human health, natural fiber composites becoming the current alternatives towards a green and environmental friendly material. This paper presents an investigation on the mechanical properties of bamboo fiber reinforced composite (BFRC) with different types of resins. The BFRC specimens were prepared by hand lay-up method using epoxy and vinyl-ester resins. Bamboo fiber volume fractions, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% and 50% was experimentally investigated by conducting tensile and flexural test, respectively. Results showed that the tensile and flexural strength of bamboo fiber reinforced epoxy composite (BFREC) was 63.2% greater than the bamboo fiber reinforced vinyl-ester composite (BFRVC). It was found that 45% of bamboo fiber volume fraction on BFREC exhibited the highest tensile strength compared to other BFRECs. Meanwhile, 40% bamboo fiber volume fraction of BFRVC showed the highest tensile strength between bamboo fiber volume fractions for BFRC using vinyl-ester resin. Studies showed that epoxy-based BFRC exhibited excellent results compared to the vinyl-ester-based composite. Further studies are required on using BFRC epoxy-based composite in various structural applications and strengthening purposes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 726-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fariborz Majdzadeh ◽  
Sayed Mohamad Soleimani ◽  
Nemkumar Banthia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of fiber reinforcement on the shear capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Both steel and synthetic fibers at variable volume fractions were investigated. Two series of tests were performed: structural tests, where RC beams were tested to failure under an applied four-point load; and materials tests, where companion fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) prisms were tested under direct shear to obtain material properties such as shear strength and shear toughness. FRC test results indicated an almost linear increase in the shear strength of concrete with an increase in the fiber volume fraction. Fiber reinforcement enhanced the shear load capacity and shear deformation capacity of RC beams, but 1% fiber volume fraction was seen as optimal; no benefits were noted when the fiber volume fraction was increased beyond 1%. Finally, an equation is proposed to predict the shear capacity of RC beams.Key words: shear strength, fiber-reinforced concrete, RC beam, stirrups, energy absorption capacity, steel fiber, synthetic fiber.


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 1897-1900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hockin H. K. Xu ◽  
Claudia P. Ostertag ◽  
Linda M. Braun ◽  
Isabel K. Lloyd

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-284
Author(s):  
Jai Inder Preet Singh ◽  
Sehijpal Singh ◽  
Vikas Dhawan

Rising environmental concerns and depletion of petrochemical resources have resulted in an increased interest in biodegradable natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. In this research work, jute fiber has been used as a reinforcement and polylactic acid (PLA) as the matrix material to develop jute/PLA green composites with the help of compression molding technique. The effect of fiber volume fraction ranging from 25% to 50% and curing temperature ranging from 160°C to 180°C on different samples were investigated for mechanical properties and water absorption. Results obtained from various tests indicate that with an increase in the fiber volume fraction, tensile and flexural strength increases till 30% fiber fraction, thereafter decreases with further increase in fiber content. Maximum tensile and flexural strength of jute/PLA composites was obtained with 30% fiber volume fraction at 160°C curing temperature. The trend obtained from mechanical properties is further justified through the study of surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 476-478 ◽  
pp. 1568-1571
Author(s):  
Ting Yi Zhang ◽  
Guang He Zheng ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Huai Sen Cai

Through the three-point bending test on the specimens of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete (SFHSC), the effects of influencing factors including water-cement ratio (W/C) and the fiber volume fraction (ρf) upon the critical value(JC) of J integral were studied. The results show that the variation tendencies of JC are different under different factors. JC meets the linear statistical relation with W/C, ρf, respectively.


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