School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

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Browsing School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering by Subject "Acacia Tortilis (AT) fiber"

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    Investigation on the Intralaminar Fracture Toughness of Acacia Tortilis/Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Polyester Composite.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2024-10) Yohannes Molla; Mulugeta Habtemariam
    Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites as well as their hybridization with synthetic fibers become a choice for their advantages such as being cheap in cost and light in weight. However, the use of these composites for different applications needs an investigation of the fracture behavior of the composite to know the damage tolerance and capability of crack resistance. To study the intralaminar fracture toughness of chopped acacia tortilis/glass fiber reinforced composite, Mode-I intralaminar fracture toughness experimental test on five 2TCT (doubly tapered compact tension) specimens from the four fabricated composite laminates (pure AT (acacia tortilis), pure Glass, and two hybrids H1(G-AT-G-AT-G-AT-G), H2(G-G-AT-AT-AT-G-G)) as per ASTM E399-09 testing standard were carried out. The total fiber volume fraction of the composite laminates was 30% the volume fraction for both hybrid composites was composed of 13% AT fiber and 17% of glass fiber. A recommended data reduction technique based on finite element analysis was employed. From the experimental result, a load-displacement curve for all composite laminates was obtained. The fracture toughness values based on critical energy release rate (GIC ) value were evaluated for all composite laminates. The resistance curve (R-curve) was plotted and discussed for all composite laminates. The fractography of fractured surfaces for all composite laminates was qualitatively discussed and from the results, a brittle fracture behavior was observed. The critical energy release (GIC) value for pure AT, Hybrid 1 (H1), Hybrid 2 (H2), and pure Glass composite laminates were evaluated as , , , and respectively. From the result of critical energy release (GIC) values of the four composite laminates, pure AT composite laminate have very small value and hybridization of it with glass fiber resulted a significant change in the GIC value. The two hybrids composite laminates have a GIC value in between the two monolithic laminate composites also have a comparable value with other natural fiber hybrid composites. Finally, a recommendation of the hybrid composite for semi structural or non-structural application was made.