Effect of layer angle on mechanical properties of epoxy-fiberglass composite

This study investigates the influence of fiber orientation angles on the mechanical performance of ۷-layer epoxy/fiberglass composites under tensile loading. Given the growing demand for advanced materials in aerospace, medical, and marine applications, optimizing composite properties—such as Young’s modulus and stress concentration—is critical. Using ABAQUS for finite element simulation and Design Expert software for Design of Experiments (DoE), we analyzed stress distribution and mechanical response across ۳۰ fiber angle configurations. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to minimize experimental runs while evaluating three key outputs: longitudinal and transverse Young’s moduli and stress concentration factor (K). ANOVA results confirmed model significance (p < ۰.۰۵) with high R² values (>۰.۹۸), ensuring robust statistical fits. Quadratic and cubic models were derived for K and Young’s moduli, respectively. Optimization yielded two angle sets: (۳۶.۸°, ۱۲۴°, ۲۸.۴°) for balanced E_x (۲۳.۸۲ GPa), E_y (۲۰.۸۶ GPa), and K (۲.۶۸); and (۸۳.۲°, ۱۳۱.۶°, ۶۱.۳°) for minimized K (۲.۳۸) with E_y> ۱۰ GPa (۲۸.۱۳ GPa). These results demonstrate that fiber angles critically govern anisotropic behavior, with specific orientations reducing stress concentrations by up to ۱۲% while maintaining stiffness.

کلیدواژه ها:

Polymer composite ، Mechanical properties ، Composite fiber angle ، Stress concentration ، Response Surface Methodology