Flexural properties of S‐2 glass and TR30S carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy hybrid composites

Abstract A study on the flexural properties of hybrid composites reinforced by S‐2 glass and TR30S carbon fibers is presented in this article. Test specimens were made by the hand lay‐up process in an intraply configuration with varying numbers of glass/epoxy laminas substituted for carbon/epoxy laminas. These specimens were then tested in the three point bend configuration in accordance with ASTM D790‐07 at a span to depth ratio of 32. The failed specimens were examined under an optical microscope, and the results show that the dominant failure mode is at the compressive side. The flexural behavior was also simulated by finite element analysis (FEA). Based on the FEA results, the flexural modulus and flexural strength were calculated. Good agreement is found between the experiments and FEA. It is shown that flexural modulus decreases with increasing percentage of S‐2 glass fibers, positive hybrid effects exist by substituting carbon fibers for glass fibers, and applying a thin layer of S‐2 glass fiber‐reinforced polymer on the compressive surface yields the highest flexural strength. The modeling approach presented will pave a way to the effective design of hybrid composites. POLYM. COMPOS., © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers