Experimental Evaluation of Fracture Toughness and Water Absorption Behavior of Woven Sisal And E-Glass Fibers Reinforced Hybrid Composite Material
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Date
2021-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The fracture toughness and influence of rain water aging on mode I fracture resistance of woven sisal and E-glass fibers hybrid composite material is experimentally studied in this paper. The sisal fibers were extracted from the sisal plant manually. 5% NaOH was used for the sisal fiber surface treatment. Then the woven sisal fiber (mat form) was prepared from treated fibers by hand weaving. Test specimens of woven sisal and randomly oriented E-glass fiber with polyester resin as a matrix material are used in this study. The manufacturing techniques was hand layup process. Compact tension specimens for mode I and rectangular specimens for rain water absorption conditions are used to realize the test. These specimens were categorized to be immersed in rain water for one week period of time to visualize the effects. The results of the experimental work showed that, the mode I fracture toughness value of KIC =10.2 MPa. √m and KIC =16.68 MPa. √m respectively for 2mm and 5mm specimen thickness, which is resulted in the normal specimen test. The water absorption tests were carried out through immersion in rain water for 7 days and the maximum water absorption of the hybrid specimen was 0.063% and 0.034% respectively for 2mm and 5mm thickness. Also, due to rain water aging of the hybrid specimen of 5mm thickness for 7 days in rain water, the fracture toughness value of the hybrid specimen was decreased by 3.94 MPa. √m. The fracture toughness of rain water exposed specimens are lower compared to the normal specimens in a compact tension test.
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Keywords
Fracture toughness, Glass fibers, Hand layup, Hybrid composite materials, Water absorption, Polyester resin, Sisal fibers, Stress intensity factor (KIC)