Static analysis of thermoset-thermoplastic-based hybrid composite

Abstract

Purpose

A growing response in the development of hybrid composites to conquer the deficiency of neat composites has provoked doing this work. Thermoplastic Polycarbonate material offers better impact toughness with low structural weight. There is a little/no information available over the selected sandwich hybrid composite prepared from woven E-Glass and polycarbonate sheet. The purpose of this paper is to understand the response of the novel hybrid structure under tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear and impact loading conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The hand-layup technique is used for fabricating the hybrid composites in the laminate configuration. The hybrid composites are prepared with a total fiber content of 70 percent weight fractions. The effect of the percentage of reinforcement on mechanical properties is evaluated experimentally as per American society for testing materials standard test methods. The damaged mechanisms of failed samples and fractured surfaces are well analyzed using vision measuring system and scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

A decline in densities of hybrid composites up to 22.5 percent is noticed with reference to neat composite. An increase in impact toughness up to 40.73 percent is marked for hybrid laminates owing to the ductile nature of PC. Delamination is identified to be the major mode of failure apart from fiber fracture/pull-out, matrix cracking in all the static loading conditions.

Originality/value

The response of novel hybrid composite reported has been explored for the first time in this paper. The outcome of experimental work revealed that hybridization offered lightweight structures with improved transverse impact toughness as compared to conventional composite.

Citation

Chitturi, S.K., Shaikh, A.A. and Makwana, A.H. (2020), "Static analysis of thermoset-thermoplastic-based hybrid composite", International Journal of Structural Integrity, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 107-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSI-05-2019-0046