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A growing response in the development of hybrid composites to conquer the deficiency of neat composites has provoked doing this work. Thermoplastic Polycarbonate material offers better impact toughness with low structural weight. There is a little/no information available over the selected sandwich hybrid composite prepared from woven E-Glass and polycarbonate sheet. The purpose of this paper is to understand the response of the novel hybrid structure under tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear and impact loading conditions.

The hand-layup technique is used for fabricating the hybrid composites in the laminate configuration. The hybrid composites are prepared with a total fiber content of 70 percent weight fractions. The effect of the percentage of reinforcement on mechanical properties is evaluated experimentally as per American society for testing materials standard test methods. The damaged mechanisms of failed samples and fractured surfaces are well analyzed using vision measuring system and scanning electron microscopy.

A decline in densities of hybrid composites up to 22.5 percent is noticed with reference to neat composite. An increase in impact toughness up to 40.73 percent is marked for hybrid laminates owing to the ductile nature of PC. Delamination is identified to be the major mode of failure apart from fiber fracture/pull-out, matrix cracking in all the static loading conditions.

The response of novel hybrid composite reported has been explored for the first time in this paper. The outcome of experimental work revealed that hybridization offered lightweight structures with improved transverse impact toughness as compared to conventional composite.

This paper aims to perform an experimental investigation on the impact strength, compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength of fly ash-based green composites and to compare with these polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE).

Fly ash-based polymer matrix composites (FA-PMCs) were fabricated using hand layup method. Composites containing 100 g by weight fly ash particles, 100 g by weight brick dust particles and 50 g by weight chopped glass fiber particles were processed. Impact strength, compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength of composites have been measured and compared with PVC, HDPE and LDPE. Impact strength of the FA-PMC is higher than that of PVC, HDPE and LDPE. Structural analysis of pipes, gears and axial flow blade was verified using ANSYS. Barlou’s condition for pipes, Lewis–Buckingham approach for gears and case-based analysis for axial flow blades were carried out and verified.

Pipes, gears and axial flow blades made form fly ash-based composites were found to exhibit improved thermal resistance (i.e. better temperature independence for mechanical operations), higher impact strength and longer life compared to those made from PVC, HDPE and LDPE. Moreover, the eco-friendly nature of the raw materials used for fabricating the composite brings into its quiver a new dimension of appeal.

Experimental investigation on the impact strength, compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength of fly ash-based green composites has not been attempted yet.

Recently, composites have concerned considerable importance as a potential operational material. Lots of work have been carried out to enhance the mechanical properties of composites. The main aim of this paper is to develop bamboo mat as reinforcing material with bagasse fiber as filler using epoxy resin matrix composite.

In this research, the effect of fiber surface treatments on mechanical properties of epoxy resin composite with bagasse as filler has been developed and investigated. The extracted bamboo fibers were treated with NaOH to improve the surface roughness fiber. Using treated and untreated bamboo fiber handwoven mat has been produced to be used as reinforcement and bagasse fiber has been converted into powder to be filled as filler. Composite material is fabricated using bamboo fiber and bagasse fiber as filler with epoxy resin as a matrix using hand layup technique.

Then, tensile, flexural and compressive strength and water absorption tests were conducted on sodium hydroxide treated and untreated fiber composites. The test results comparing with and without alkali treated composites show that there was significant change in their strength and water absorption properties on alkali treated fiber.

This study is an original research paper.

The need for seeking alternate materials with increased performance in the field of composites revived this research, to prepare and evaluate the mechanical properties of e-glass and aloe vera fiber-reinforced with polyester and epoxy resin matrices.

The composites are prepared by hand layup method using E-glass and aloe vera fibers with length 5-6 mm. The resin used in the preparation of composites was epoxy and polyester. Fiber-reinforced composites were synthesized at 18:82 fiber–resin weight percentages. Samples prepared were tested to evaluate its mechanical and physical properties, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, hardness and scanning electron microscope (SEM).

SEM analysis revealed the morphological features. E-glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composite exhibited better mechanical properties than other composite samples. The cross-linking density of monomers of the epoxy resin and addition of the short chopped E-glass fibers enhanced the properties of E-glass epoxy fiber-reinforced composite.

This research work enlists the properties of e-glass and aloe vera fiber-reinforced with polyester and epoxy resin matrices which has not been attempted so far.

The study aims to investigate the influence of fabric hybridization, stacking sequences and matrix materials on the tensile strength and damping behavior of jute/carbon reinforced hybrid composites.

The hybrid composites were fabricated with different sequences of fabric plies in epoxy and polyester matrix using a hand layup technique. The tensile and vibration characteristics were evaluated on the hybrid laminated composite models using finite element analysis (FEA), and the results were validated experimentally according to ASTM standards. The surface morphology of the fractured specimens was studied using the scanning electron microscope.

The experimental results revealed that the position of jute layers in the hybrid composites has a significant influence on the tensile strength and damping behavior. The hybrid composite with jute fiber at the surface sides and carbon fibers at the middle exhibited higher tensile strength with superior damping properties. Further, it is found that the experimental results are in good coherence with the FEA results.

The less weight and low-cost hybrid composites were fabricated by incorporating the jute and carbon fabrics in interply configurations. The influences of fabric hybridization, stacking arrangements and matrix materials on the tensile and vibration behavior of jute/carbon hybrid composites have been numerically evaluated and the results were experimentally validated.

It is seen that little amount of work on optimization of mechanical properties taking into consideration the combined effect of design variables such as stacking angle, stacking sequence, different resins and thickness of composite laminates has been carried out. The focus of this research work is on the optimization of the design variables like stacking angle, stacking sequence, different resins and thickness of composite laminates which affect the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. For this purpose, the Taguchi technique and the method of gray relational analysis (GRA) are used to identify the optimum combination of design variables. In this case, the effect of the abovementioned design variables, particularly of the newly developed resin (NDR) on mechanical properties of hybrid composites has been investigated.

The Taguchi method is used for design of experiments and with gray relational grade (GRG) approach, the optimization is done.

From the experimental analysis and optimization study, it was seen that the NDR gives excellent bonding strength of fibers resulting in enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid composite laminates. With the GRA method, the initial setting (A3B2C4D2) was having GRG 0.866. It was increased by using a new optimum combination (A2B2C4D1) to 0.878. It means that there is an increment in the grade by 1.366%. Therefore, using the GRA approach of analysis, design variables have been successfully optimized to achieve enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid composite laminates.

This is an original research work.

The purpose of this study was to introduce three-dimensional printing (3DP) of functionally graded sandwich foams (FGSFs). This work was continued by predicting the mechanical buckling and free vibration behavior of 3DP FGSFs using experimental and numerical analyses.

Initially, hollow glass microballoon-reinforced high-density polyethylene-based polymer composite foams were developed, and these materials were extruded into their respective filaments. These filaments are used as feedstock materials in fused filament fabrication based 3DP for the development of FGSFs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed on the freeze-dried samples to observe filler sustainability. Furthermore, the density, critical buckling load (P_cr), natural frequency (f_n) and damping factor of FGSFs were evaluated. The critical buckling load (P_cr) of the FGSFs was estimated using the double-tangent method and modified Budiansky criteria.

The density of FGSFs decreased with increasing filler percentage. The mechanical buckling load increased with the filler percentage. The natural frequency corresponding to the first mode of the FGSFs exhibited a decreasing trend with an increasing load in the pre-buckling regime and an increase in post-buckled zone, whereas the damping factor exhibited the opposite trend.

The current research work is valuable for the area of 3D printing by developing the functionally graded foam based sandwich beams. Furthermore, it intended to present the buckling behavior of 3D printed FGSFs, variation of frequency and damping factor corresponding to first three modes with increase in load.

Members of the Plastics Institute in Birmingham recently heard a talk by Mr. G. T. Bateman, Chief Engineer of Plastic Constructions Limited. The following is a shortened version of some of the main points he covered on the subject of plastics fabrication.

The growing environmental awareness all through the world has motivated a standard change toward planning and designing better materials having good performance, which are very much suited to the environmental factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact on mechanical, thermal and water absorption properties of sawdust-based composites reinforced by epoxy, and the amount of sawdust in each form.

Manufacturing of the sawdust reinforced epoxy composites is the main area of the research for promoting the green composite by having good mechanical properties, biodegradability or many applications. Throughout this research work, the authors emphasize the importance of explaining the methodology for the evaluation of the mechanical and water absorption properties of the sawdust reinforced epoxy composites used by researchers.

In this paper, a comprehensive review of the mechanical properties of sawdust reinforced epoxy composite is presented. This study is reported about the use of different Wt.% of sawdust composites prepared by different processes and their mechanical, thermal and water absorption properties. It is studied that after optimum filler percentage, mechanical, thermal properties gradually decrease, but water absorption property increases with Wt.% of sawdust. The changes in the microstructure are studied by using scanning electron microscopy.

The novelty of this study lies in its use of a systematic approach that offers a perspective on choosing suitable processing parameters for the fabrication of composite materials for persons from both industry and academia. A study of sawdust reinforced epoxy composites guides new researchers in the fabrication and characterization of the materials.

Here, attempts have been made to explore the possible use of Marine waste as filler materials into the bio-fibre composites. Clam shell is a type of marine waste which belongs to the class of Bivalvia. It is mainly made of aragonite crystalline polymorphs. This paper aims to develop a new class of natural fibre composite in which jute fibre as reinforcement, epoxy as matrix and clam shell, as particulate microsphere filler. The study investigates the effects of different amounts of clam shell powder on the kinetics of water absorption of jute fibre-reinforced epoxy composite. Two different environmental conditions at room temperature, i.e. distilled water and seawater, are collected for this purpose. Moisture absorption reduces when clam shell is added to the jute-epoxy composite. The curve of water absorption of jute-epoxy composites with filler loading at both environmental conditions follows as Fickian behaviour.

Hand lay-up technique to fabricate the composite – Experimental observation

The incorporation of Clam shell filler in jute epoxy composite modified the water absorption property of the composite. Hence the present marine waste is an potential filler in jute fibre reinforced polymer composite.

The paper demonstrates a new class hybrid composite material which uses a marine waste as important phase in the bio-fibre-reinforced composite. It is a new work submitted for original research paper.