Mechanical response of glass fibre tufted composites for structural applications

Abstract In the present work, Tufting of glass fibre laminas (GFL) was done using E Glass fibre yarn. Epoxy grade matrix is reinforced with constant volume fraction of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Tufted laminas/plies are fabricated. Mechanical properties such as Tensile, Flexural and Impact were investigated on the prepared composites. Tufting of GFL are done with three different configurations, [2 × 2], [3 × 3], [4 × 4], and plain laminates without tufting are also tested for comparison. Results reveal that tufting of plies in composites has positive effect in variations of mechanical properties. Tufting of composites have led to enhanced bending and tensile strengths. Due to enriched fibers packing near Tufting region than far locations exhibited improved properties. The tensile strength, flexural strength and impact resistance of tufted laminates were 5.34% to 34.85%, 19.79% to 58.43% and 7.43% to 12.53% greater than plain laminates respectively. Fiber pull-out, inadequate matrix diffusion, and stress accumulation along the z-direction tufting were identified by SEM analysis as contributing factors to failure processes. Because of through-thickness reinforcement a decreases delamination and thereby increases damage tolerance. Hence this supports the idea of greater tufting density by improving mechanical performance of tufted composites. The most efficient tufting pattern was the [2 × 2] pattern, which showed excellent mechanical qualities. According to these results, tufting is a practical way of reinforcing method for structural composite applications.