The Influence of Reinforcement Size and Shape on the Mechanical Properties of Composites

Abstract: In the present work the effects of size and shape of reinforcements on the mechanical properties of composite material is discussed in detail Since reinforcements have a dominant control on mechanical properties such as, tensile strength, stiffness, toughness and fracture resistance. This work comprehensively assesses how the size and the shape of reinforcements, which can be nano, micro and macroscopic, and can be fibers, particles, or platelets, affect the behaviour of the resulting composites. Both numerical and experimental approaches were used to investigate the interface adhesion, stress profile and fracture characteristics as influenced by the kind of reinforcements. Specific outcomes suggest that the use of nano-sized reinforcements results in enhanced values of toughness and thermal stability, when compared with the use of micro- and macro-sized reinforcements of glass fibers in epoxy composites, which in turn results in improved tensile strength and bulk mechanical stability. Reinforcement shape was also identified as playing a significant part; continuous fibers provided the best load-carrying capability, spherical particles uniform stress distribution, while platelet strengthened impact strength of the composite. In addition, the study on the hybrid reinforcement systems revealed the interaction and cooperation of different reinforcement types to design composite properties for certain industries. The findings of the current study offer corollary guidelines on the development high-performance composites with enhanced mechanical features and fathom the innovative research solutions for the existing flaws such as testing methodologies and bio- spheres reinforcements.