Glass Fibre

Raman spectroscopy, plasma emission spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), elemental analysis, solution conductivity and pH, were used to characterise the solutions and the acid, base and silane-treated E-glass fibres. Strong acids and bases induced an ion exchange reaction, which caused large quantities of aluminium and calcium to be leached from the E-glass surface. Samples treated with strong bases were found to have large quantities of sodium on the E-glass fibre surface; this came from the sodium hydroxide used to treat the fibres and from the bulk of the fibre. A cyclic isocyanurate silane, which was only partially soluble in water, was detected on the E-glass surface. A cationic amino-functional silane ester with a long organic chain did not completely hydrolyse in an aqueous solution adjusted to pH=4. The solution concentration, which gave the maximum amount deposited, was different for each silane tested.

Composites materials are used in almost all aspects of the industrial and commercial fields in aircraft, ships, common vehicles, etc. Their most attractive properties are the high strength-to-weight ratio. Polymer composites are used because overall properties of the composites are superior to those of the individual polymers. Glass Fiber composites are considered to have potential use as a reinforcing material in epoxy polymer based composites because of their good strength, stiffness etc., The aim of the present work is to investigate the mechanical properties of Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Based Composites. Here, Glass fiber is the fiber reinforcement and epoxy polymer resin as a matrix material. Composites were prepared with longitudinal (Unidirectional) cross (Bidirectional) and chopped glass fiber reinforced with epoxy based polymer. Mechanical test i.e. tensile test was performed on UTM and flexural test was done on flexural testing machine and the results are reported in the conclusion.

Recent regulation IEC 60335-1 ed.4 (2008) was introduced for materials used in electric appliance, establishing new limits in Glow Wire Ignition Temperature (GWIT) performance for materials used for electric connectors. Development of new products with high GWIT is possible, but the main issue is to keep good mechanical properties and processability, as well as tracking resistance (Comparative Tracking Index-CTI). Only a

Most widely recognized material in the present world is Concrete due its durability, and strength aspects. Hence by using different additives like Glass fibre and woven biaxial Geogrid the compressive strength test is carried out for M30 and M40 grade of concrete to improve the performance of concrete. The main aim of the present study is to analyze the compressive strength of concrete, when concrete is mixed with glass fiber and Geogrid, to meet the demands of the modern construction. The addition of Glass fibre into concrete increases the compressive strength of concrete than Geogrid concrete. Tests are conducted by using glass fibre and Geogrid. For 1 m3 of concrete 612grams of glass fibre for M30 grade of concrete and for M40 grade of concrete 697 grams of glass fibre for 1m3 of concrete are used. Geogrids are placed at 2 layers (50mm interval each) in a 150*150mm cube in both M30 and M40 grade of concrete.

The paper deals with experimental investigations on reinforcing the adhesive in single lap joints subjected to mechanical loads such as tensile, bending, impact and fatigue. The adhesive used for bonding was an epoxy reinforced with unidirectional and chopped glass fibres as well as micro-glass powder. The adherends were glass reinforced composite laminates. The bonding surfaces were prepared before joining. In the case of unidirectional fibres in the adhesive region, the fibre orientations considered were 0°, 45° and 90°. The volume fraction of fibres in the adhesive layer in all the cases was 30%. The volume fractions of micro-glass powder were 20%, 30% and 40%. The tensile, bending, impact and fatigue tests on the prepared specimens were conducted according to ASTM standards. The results show that except the 90° unidirectional orientation, reinforcing the adhesive with glass fibres or powder increases the joint strength. The use of volume fraction of 30% of micro-glass powder gave the best performance in the above loading conditions. The fatigue life increased by 125%, the ultimate joint strength in tension increased by 72%, the bending ultimate joint strength increased by 112% and the impact joint strength increased by 63%. The microstructure of the debonded area was examined and three modes of failure could be observed namely cohesive failure, light fibre-tear failure and thin layer cohesive failure.

Fibre Metal Laminates with layers of aluminium alloy and high strength glass fibre composite have been reported to possess excellent impact properties and be suitable for aircraft parts likely to be subjected to impacts such as runway debris or bird strikes. In a collaborative research project, aircraft wing leading edge structures with a glass-based FML skin have been designed, built, and subjected to bird strike tests that have been modelled with finite element analysis. In this second part of a two-part paper, a finite element model is developed for simulating the bird strike tests, using Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for modelling the bird and the material model developed in Part 1 of the paper for modelling the leading edge skin. The bird parameters are obtained from a system identification analysis of strikes on flat plates. Pre-test simulations correctly predicted that the bird did not penetrate the leading edge skin, and correctly forecast that one FML lay-up would deform more than the other. Post test simulations included a model of the structure supporting the test article, and the predicted loads transferred to the supporting structure were in good agreement with the experimental values. The SPH bird model showed no signs of instability and correctly modelled the break-up of the bird into particles. The rivets connecting the skin to the ribs were found to have a profound effect on the performance of the structure.

This Part 2 paper presents results of comparative experimental study of progressive damage in 2D and 3D woven glass/epoxy composites under in-plane tensile loading. As Part 1, this Part 2 work is focused on the comparison of in-plane tensile properties of two non-crimp single-ply 3D orthogonal weave E-glass fibre composites on one side and a laminate reinforced with four plies of E-glass plain weave on the other. The damage investigation methodology combines mechanical testing with acoustic emission registration (that provides damage initiation thresholds), progressive cracks observation on transparent samples, full-field surface strain mapping and cracks observation on micrographs, altogether enabling for a thorough characterisation of the local micro- and meso-damage modes of the studied composites. The obtained results demonstrate that the non-crimp 3D orthogonal woven composites have significantly higher in-plane strengths, failure strains and damage initiation thresholds than their 2D woven laminated counterpart. The growth of transverse cracks in the yarns of 3D composites is delayed, and they are less prone to a yarn–matrix interfacial crack formation and propagation. Delaminations developing between the plies of plain weave fabric in the laminate at certain load level never appear in the 3D woven single-ply composites.