Mechanical Behavior of Fiber Glass and Rubber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Hybrid composite materials are among the most effective options for providing good suspension in wheeled vehicle applications. By reducing the weight of suspension systems, they help lower overall fuel consumption and costs. A common approach is to replace traditional steel components with composite materials. To enhance safety, comfort, and durability, composites have been introduced, thanks to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and ability to store significant elastic strain. This study investigates the structural properties of a hybrid composite material composed of 95% epoxy, 5% rubber, 5% glass fiber, and 5% hybrid reinforcement of rubber and glass fiber. The hand lay-up method is selected for fabrication due to its advantages over other techniques. To evaluate the performance of the proposed composite leaf spring, mechanical experiments including tensile, impact, and hardness tests are conducted. The results demonstrated that the addition of reinforcing fibers improved tensile strength, impact resistance, and hardness. The best mechanical properties are achieved with the use of hybrid reinforcement. Key Words: Epoxy, glass fiber, rubber, composite, mechanical properties.