Abstract
The unique properties of fibre reinforced plastic materials have resulted in their use by engineers from various industries. An even greater diversity of properties can be achieved by using two or more different fibres in the same plastic. Such materials are known as hybrid fibre composites and in tension they have been reported to show properties higher than would be predicted by simple averaging.
In work at Loughborough the behaviour in compression of hybrids of varying glass/carbon ratio and laminate construction have been studied. Their failure strain was found to exceed those of carbon fibre laminates and this has been related to the fibre volume ratio (Vfc/Vft) and the order in which the individual plies occur. Laminates with carbon outer layers demonstrated a lower effect than those with glass outers. All of the hybrids had a greater compressive strength than would be expected if the materials failed at the strain of the carbon fibres and their modulus values obeyed the rule of mixtures provided the moduli of the constituent parts was taken at the same strain level. The failure mechanisms in the hybrid specimens have been identified and related to the factors which influence their initiation.
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