Evaluation of modal frequencies obtained with the impact hammer technique on an epoxy matrix composite material reinforced with glass fibers

Abstract

obtain the modal frequencies of polymeric composite materials reinforced with unidirectional fibers (glass fiber and epoxy resin) for possible aeronautical applications. The objective of this study is to compare the behavior of an isotropic material with an orthotropic one. This comparison is to observe the influence of the material properties on its performance under dynamic conditions, where the modal frequencies of a material can directly affect the performance of each element of a structure. The first case describes the numerical and experimental identification of the modal frequencies of an isotropic material (6065 T5 aluminum). The second case study is presented to show how this methodology is adapted to the composite material. The experimental results are obtained by applying the impact hammer testing method. The comparison provides new insights into the modal behavior of vibrations in composite materials. A significant finding of this work is to provide a detailed analysis of the behavior of a unidirectional composite material in terms of the fiber’s orientation. Then, this work would be established the fundamentals of the composite material performance for rotative elements applications.