Journal of Research in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics ISSN: 3107-4510 (Online)

Authors: Jagannatha GupthaV L, Ramesh S Sharma

Abstract: This paper presents, by experimentally investigating, the effect of notch dimension and fiber orientation on the tensile strength of laminated CFRP composites. In the present study, notch tensile strength of unidirectional CFRP laminated composites with epoxy matrix is evaluated. Three fiber orientations viz 0o, 45o and 90owith two central circular holes/notches of 6 mm and 10 mm diameter are considered. An experimental program has been carried out to investigate their effect on the tensile strength of laminated composites in the presence of central circular notch. Investigations on the tensile strength of composite laminates containing circular holes show that there is a large difference in failure stress and mode of failure mechanism. It has been observed that the notch tensile strength decreases with increase in whole diameter/notch size and with the increase in fiber orientation. Considerable variation in strength has also been observed between 0o and 45o fiber orientations as compared to that between 45o and 90o which is very small. In addition to the variation in strength, two different failure mechanisms are observed: fibre pull out in 0o loading condition, debonding along the fiber orientation with matrix damage in other two conditions. It is observed that the damage propagated across the gauge section via delamination at the hole, which is controlled by the ply direction.