Study of composite compressive properties due to biaxial deformation of the weft-knitted glass fabrics

The effect of biaxially deforming a weft-knit Milano rib fabric on the over all composite compressive proper-ties has been studied for a glass/vinyl-es ter knitted composite. A range of combinations of wale-course stretch ratio s was considered. It was found that the compression properties of these str uctures, on the whole, appeared to be closer to isotropic and relatively in sensitive to fabric deformation. This observation is believed to be due to the dominance of the matrix properties. Despite not detecting any gross cha nges in the knit structure, it is believed that some redistribution and reo rientation of the fibres did occur during fabric deformation, which in tam altered the relative contents and/or directionality of the fibres in the co mposites. A feature of the compressive failure was kinking of the highly be nt yams, particularly in resin rich regions having reduced lateral support for yams. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.