Significance of Energy Absorbing Layer in GFRP Composite on Flexural Response

摘要

The specific properties of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) laminates have expanded its application in making automobile leaf springs. The cross ply laminate (0/R/2090/90/0 and 0/90/90/0) specimen of 25 % and 32 % fiber volume fraction are prepared by a hand lay-up technique with and without a uniquely processed energy absorbing (R-resin) layer in the lay-up. Experimental simulation of the leaf spring loading is done by considering the road tire interaction. The low frequency, constant amplitude cyclic loading was imposed on a cantilever composite specimen by an eccentric disc with an amplitude of 3 mm at 2.6 Hz, 4.6 Hz, and 8.6 Hz frequencies for 11 × 10~3,22 × 10~3, and 33 × 10~3 cycles. The experiments are planned by Taguchi's DOE and L9 orthogonal array with two factors and three levels. The flexural modulus of the cyclic loaded specimen was obtained by a three-point bend test as per ASTM D790-03 [Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical insulating Materials, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2003, www.astm.org]. Experimental results are statistically investigated by analysis of variance (ANOVA), signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), and regression analysis. During the study, the critical value of loading frequency and cycle was observed for attaining enhanced flexural modulus. The presence of an energy absorbing resin layer enhances the sustainability of the composite leaf. The damage pattern with orthogonal interaction after loading was examined by the specimen morphology.