Optimization of the mechanical performance and damage failure characteristics of laminated composites based on fiber orientation

Abstract

In this study, the effect of fiber angle on the tensile load-bearing performance and damage failure characteristics of glass composite laminates was investigated experimentally, analytically, and numerically. The glass fabric in the laminate was perfectly aligned along the load direction (i.e., at 0°), offset at angles of 30° and 45°, or mixed in different directions (i.e., 0°/30° or 0°/45°). The composite laminates were fabricated using vacuum-assisted resin molding. The influence of fiber orientation angle on the mechanical properties and stiffness degradation of the laminates was studied via cyclic tensile strength tests. Furthermore, simulations have been conducted using finite element analysis and analytical approaches to evaluate the influence of fiber orientation on the mechanical performance of glass laminates. Experimental testing revealed that, although the composite laminates laid along the 0° direction exhibited the highest stiffness and strength, their structural performance deteriorated rapidly. We also determined that increasing the fiber offset angle (i.e., 30°) could optimize the mechanical properties and damage failure characteristics of glass laminates. The results of the numerical and analytical approaches demonstrated their ability to capture the mechanical behavior and damage failure modes of composite laminates with different fiber orientations, which may be used to prevent the catastrophic failures that occur in composite laminates.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

fiber orientation / composite laminates / stiffness degradation / analytical approaches / finite element analysis

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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