Effects of double and triple hybridization of expanded metallic mesh on the un-notched and notched strength of fiber-reinforced composite

The main limitations of glass fiber composites that control their adoption in various lightweight applications are their inadequate residual strength and damage tolerance. This study emphasizes the fracture toughness and crack resistance of hybrid composites reinforced with different metallic meshes. Hybrid composites were manufactured using an epoxy matrix reinforced with steel and aluminum mesh and glass fiber. Several hybrid arrangements were produced, including pure glass (epoxy and glass fiber), double hybrid structures (steel mesh with glass fiber and Al-mesh with glass fiber), and a triple hybrid (steel, Al-mesh, and glass fiber) with different stacking sequences utilizing the hand-layup method. Tensile fracture properties were investigated through un-notched and double-edge-notch-tension (DENT) tests with two loading orientations (horizontal and vertical). A digital microscope with high resolution was used for examining fracture morphologies. Double and triple hybridization resulted in significant improvements in tensile strength ( σ t ) and strain ( ε t ), with average increases of 16.2 % and 15 %, respectively. Furthermore, double hybridization retained 45.5 % more energy and provided 5.4 % higher stiffness than PG. Double hybridization of Al-mesh significantly improved the fracture characteristics, specifically when positioned horizontally, providing improvements in fracture strength, peak load, K IC and toughness G IC of 19.15 %, 55.8 %, 35.33 % and 88.9 %, respectively. Integration of metallic mesh enhanced the damage profile and effectively delayed the propagation of cracks. Decision making technique (TOPSIS) was utilized to select the most effective composite arrangement.