High performance laminated composites for automotive applications - a study

Abstract

High strength to weight ratio, directional strength and stiffness are the significant factors, forcing laminated composites into the aerospace, marine, andautomotive industries. Due to these major factors fuel efficiency and crashworthinessproperties are the significant out comes from the use of these advanced polymer newlinelaminated composites. Light weight characteristics in structural materials have become one of the basic requirements for all transportation systems. The research and development of high performance structural materials for automotive applications have been focused for a long on the weight saving and minimal environmental impact. Composite panels are subjected to bending load, Prediction of the flexural strength in high performance laminated composites is very important for engineering application yet difficult in nature.The purpose of this work is to analyze the flexural behavior and progressive failure of laminated composites subjected to a bending load. The analysis is based on the classical lamination theory. Only the mechanical properties of constituent Fibre and matrix materials under the bending load condition and the laminate geometric parameters are required. All these data can be measured independently before composite fabrication. As one does not know a prior ply failure corresponds to the ultimate failure, the use of only the stress failure criterion is no longer sufficient for newlinethe determination of the laminate ultimate strength. An additional critical deflection is the laminate deflection corresponding to which the ultimate bending strength is measured. Experiments are carried out to obtain the bending stiffness and strength of laminated composite beams reinforced with Fibres under three - point bending. Using ASTM standards, shear testing of laminated composites is also investigated.Hence, in this work, it is proposed to carry out a detailed experimental work to newlineinvestigate the flexural and shear properties of high performance lightweight laminated composites.