a new model is proposed in this research to calculate the longitudinal strengthof unidirectional e-glass reinforced polymer composites exposed to sulfuricacid environment, using a micromechanics model. in the proposed method,it is assumed that the residual strength of the degraded composites under acidic environment can be calculated by knowing the degraded strength properties of the constituen...

In this study, carbon nano fibers (CNFs) were mixed into epoxy resin through a magnetic stirrer and again mixed using ultra sonicator. Using hand layup technique, biaxial braided fiber composites were prepared with unfilled, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 wt% CNF. Tensile test and shear test was performed to identify the tensile strength and shear strength of the composites. Fractured surface of the tensile sp...

A short overview of composite materials for wind turbine applications is presented here. Requirements toward the wind turbine materials, loads, as well as available materials are reviewed. Apart from the traditional composites for wind turbine blades (glass fibers/epoxy matrix composites), natural composites, hybrid and nanoengineered composites are discussed. Manufacturing technologies for win...

This work presents an insight into the effect of conductive filler content on both electrical and thermal properties of a polymer composite system. The electrical conductivity of an insulating polymer can be achieved by dispersing conducting fillers (e.g., metal, graphite powder, carbon black, carbon fiber) in the polymer matrix. The resulting materials are referred to as conducting polymer com...

the influence of nanoclay on the impact damage resistance of glass fiber–epoxy composites has been investigated using high-velocity repeated ice impact tests. the incorporation of nanoclay into epoxy enhances the impact resistance of the composites. the impact of ice is a realistic scenario for composite structures such as aircraft fuselages, wing skins and fan blades and it is not a completely...

This study investigated the influence of nanoclay on the impact damage resistance of glass fiber-epoxy composites under high velocity ice impact loading. Addition of 0.5 wt. % nanoclay into epoxy was shown to improve damage resistance compared to composite plates having no nanoclay platelet. The glass fiber-epoxy composites containing nanoclay brought about substantial improvement in ice impact...

Non covalent functionalization by π stacking was accomplished by treating multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) through the use of Kentera, a conjugate rigid rod polymer. The functionalized MWNTs were then introduced into the epoxy resins through a combination of shear and elongation forces. The resulting epoxy resin (containing MWNTs) was then impregnated with carbon fiber under hot-melt condi...

This paper presents the investigation of dry fibers in thick composites. Dry fibers can be defined as lack of epoxy in localized regions. These local regions act as potential defects in thick composites under compressive loads and act as an initiation point for defects such as matrix cracking and delamination. Detection and characterization of dryness in glass/epoxy composites, with thickness g...

In the present research work, the flexural modulus and strength of glass fiber-epoxy resin and carbon fiber-epoxy resin composites have been enhanced through fiber tension during curing of the polymeric resin. This study showed that the tension applied on the fibers increased the flexural modulus of the glass-epoxy composites up to 12% and the flexural strength up to 19%. The flexural modulus a...

In this work, we report the potential use of novel carbon nanofibers (CNFs), dispersed during fabrication of glass fiber composites to monitor damage propagation under static loading. The use of CNFs enables a transformation of the typically non-conductive glass fiber composites into new fiber composites with appreciable electrical conductivity. The percolation limit of CNFs/epoxy nanocomposite...