TENSILE PROPERTIES OF PLAIN WEFT KNITTED GLASS-FIBER FABRIC REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES

This paper describes the tensile properties and failure mechanisms of plain weft knitted glass fiber fabric reinforced epoxy composites. The composite was made by reinforcing epoxy resin with a single ply of pl ain weft knitted glass fiber fabric. Tensile properties were investiga ted in the wale and course directions of the knitted fabric. Tensile f ailure mechanisms were identified experimentally by in-situ recording of damage processes using a video camera and by studying fracture surf aces using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Elastic modulus was pre dicted using a modified rule of mixtures law incorporating reinforceme nt efficiency of curved fiber bundles. Tensile strength was predicted by estimating the failure strength of the fiber bundles bridging the f racture plane. Also, attempts have been made to predict tensile failur e mechanisms and tensile properties using a three dimensional finite e lement model. The results of analytical and finite element model were compared with the experimental results.