Investigating the effects of anisotropy of knitted fabric reinforced polymer (KFRP) composite

This paper investigates the mechanical performance of Knitted Fabric Reinfo rced Polymer (KFRP) composite when subjected to tensile loading. In particu lar, the effects of the fabric orientation (anisotropy) and temperature are examined. Polypropylene (PP) is used for the matrix, while plain weft knit ted Kevlar29 fiber fabric is used for the reinforcement. Tensile tests are conducted at both room and elevated temperatures. The deformation of the KF RP composite when subjected to tensile loading is observed to be distinctly ductile and predominantly plastic. While the tensile modulus is observed t o decrease from the wale direction to a minimum between 45 degrees and 60 d egrees with respect to the wale direction before increasing slightly toward s the course direction, the ultimate tensile strength is observed to decrea se from the wale direction to a minimum at the course direction. There are three different modes of failure which can be defined at the wale, 45 degre es and course directions. Failure at other orientations is found to be a co mbination of any of these three modes of failure.