Influence of Aerosil-200 Nanofiller on the Flexural and Compressive Behaviour of Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

This study examines the impact of Aerosil-200 nanofiller on the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites in laminated plates and thin cylindrical shells. Composite specimens were produced with a hand lay-up method with nanofiller contents of 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by weight. Flexural tests on laminated specimens (ASTM D790) and compression tests on cylindrical shells were conducted to assess the impact of nanofiller on bending resistance and axial load-bearing capacity. The experimental results demonstrate a gradual improvement in flexural strength with an increase in nanofiller content up to 3%, with a maximum strength of 590.59 N/mm2, in contrast to 399.9 N/mm² for the unfilled laminate. A comparable trend is noted in compression testing, wherein the 3% nanofiller shell demonstrates the maximum compressive strength of 157.663 N/mm² and a peak load of 58.230 kN. The 4% filled sample exhibits diminished performance, with strength decreasing to 116.34 N/mm². The results indicate that Aerosil-200 markedly improves mechanical performance up to an ideal filler concentration of 3%, after which material degradation ensues. This study offers critical insights for optimizing nanofiller loading in composite materials to enhance flexural and compressive performance.