Effect of stacking sequences on the mechanical properties of high-performance glass fibre epoxy composites for lightweight manufacture applications

Abstract

Fibre reinforced composites are widely employed in numerous diverse applications, especially within the automotive sector, owing to their relatively lower weights in comparison to metal structures. Our current work involves fabricating composite laminates measuring 300 mm by 300 mm, with varying ratios of fibre to resin (1:1.5, 1:1.75, 1:2, referring to the weight of fibre and resin), along with different orientations of the woven glass fibre and epoxy resin layers, namely (0° / 90° / 0° / 90°), (0° / 30° / 60° / 90°), and (0° / + 45° / 90° / −45°) on the woven glass fibres. In accordance with ASTM (American Society for Testing of Materials) standards, the laminated composites have been subjected to tests for mechanical properties, including impact, flexural, and tensile strength and it was achieved high strength compared to the other samples like 143 MPa, 192.5 MPa, and 15J. By analyzing the test results obtained from a range of ply orientations and strength-to-weight ratios, it is possible to determine which ply orientation and strength-to-weight ratio would be advantageous for the application of glass fibre reinforced polymer composites and could potentially serve as an alternative material. In the automotive industry, reducing the weight of vehicles is crucial as it directly correlates with improved fuel efficiency. By using glass fibre epoxy composites with the most suitable stacking sequences (such as those found to have excellent mechanical properties in this study), manufacturers can replace heavier metal components.